Ranked Choice Voting: How It Works & Why It Matters

Election officials hope for a smooth process as New York City uses ranked-choice voting in its mayoral primary.

NEW YORK, June 23, 2025

decoding ranked choice in the Big Apple

NYC uses ranked-choice voting. how dose it work, and what are the pros and cons?

• NYC’s Democratic mayoral primary employs ranked-choice voting.
• Voters rank up to five candidates in order of preference.
• Tabulation continues untill one candidate secures over 50% of the vote.
• The system aims to ensure broad support for the winning candidate.
• Results may take longer due to mail-in ballots and tabulation rounds.

New York City is gearing up for its Democratic mayoral primary election Tuesday, and with it comes ranked-choice voting. How does ranked-choice voting work? The system allows voters to rank up to five candidates, ensuring that even if their top choice doesn’t win, their vote still counts toward another preferred candidate.

Thirty city Council districts will hold contested primaries Tuesday. The Democratic primary for NYC mayor is the top race, featuring a crowded field. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is a leading candidate, while Zohran Mamdani has been closing the gap in recent weeks.

Did you know?–Ranked-choice voting is also known as instant-runoff voting. Several cities and states across the U.S. use it, including Alaska and Maine, for some or all elections.

How Ranked-Choice Voting works

Ranked-choice voting aims to enhance democracy by allowing voters to express a more nuanced preference. instead of picking just one candidate,voters rank multiple candidates in order of preference.

If a candidate wins a majority (over 50%) of first-choice votes, the election proceeds as usual. however, if no candidate reaches this threshold, the ranked-choice analysis begins.

after the first round, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated. Then, the voters who picked that candidate as their top choice have their votes redistributed to their second choice. This process continues until a candidate gets more than 50% of the vote.

Currently, eleven candidates are vying for the Democratic mayoral nomination. Incumbent mayor eric Adams, though a Democrat, is running as an autonomous in November. The Republican Party has already nominated Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels.

reader question:-How might ranked-choice voting affect campaign strategies? Do candidates need to appeal to a broader base of voters, even those who might not initially support them?

The Timeline for Results

While the computerized vote tabulation is swift, the complete process takes time. Polls close at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Initial results will offer insights into first-choice preferences shortly after.

However, ranked-choice tabulations won’t commence until July 1, pending the arrival of mail-in ballots. The July 1 tabulation might indicate a winner, but official certification awaits further absentee ballots, with final certification slated for July 15.

In 2021, New York City’s first experience with ranked-choice voting in a mayoral primary was marred by errors. Election officials failed to remove test data from the tabulation program, leading to inaccurate initial results. Officials are focused on ensuring a smoother process this time around.

The Upsides of Ranked-Choice Voting

One major advantage is that voters don’t have to worry about “wasting” their vote on a less popular candidate. Thay can rank their true favorite as No. 1, knowing that if that candidate is eliminated, their vote will still count toward their next choice.

Ranked-choice voting also makes it harder for a candidate to win without broad support. in a traditional election, a candidate with fringe views might win a crowded race, even if most voters dislike them. With ranked-choice, a candidate needs to be acceptable to a wider range of voters to win.

The Downsides of Ranked-Choice Voting

The system can be complex and hard to understand. Voters need to do more research, and the outcomes are less predictable.

Clarity and trust are other concerns. In typical elections, the public and news organizations can monitor votes precinct by precinct. But with ranked-choice voting, the vote redistribution is done by a computer program. It’s harder for outside groups to assess the accuracy of the ranked votes.

Instances may arise where candidates leading in first-place votes on election night ultimately lose because they were not ranked as the second or third choice by enough voters, potentially raising questions about the legitimacy of the results.

Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner is seeking to return to elected office in the Democratic primary for New York City Council District 2, more than a decade after multiple sexting scandals ended his congressional career. Also facing a primary is Manhattan district Attorney Alvin Bragg, who won a criminal conviction against Donald Trump in 2024.

The Impact on Candidates adn Campaigns

The primary presents unique challenges and opportunities for candidates. The need to secure ranked-choice votes is a significant shift from customary campaigns. Candidates must appeal to a broader base, making strategic decisions that could influence the outcome significantly.

Candidates must also consider how to convey their message differently.They cannot solely rely on rallying their core supporters. Instead,they must develop strategies that convince a wider range of voters to rank them as their second or third choice. This could potentially lead to more civil campaigns and a focus on policy details rather than polarizing rhetoric.

The potential for coalition-building is another key aspect of ranked-choice voting. Candidates might engage in strategic alliances and endorsements to increase their chances of gaining second-choice votes from other candidates’ supporters.

How does ranked-choice voting affect campaign strategies? candidates need to broaden their appeal to capture second and third-choice votes. This could mean focusing on policy discussions and potentially collaborating with other candidates.

Practical Tips for Voters: Navigating Ranked-Choice

Understanding ranked-choice voting is key to making the most of your vote. Here are some practical tips:

• Do your research: familiarize yourself with all the candidates. Learn about their platforms and policy positions.
• Rank your true preferences: Don’t feel pressured to vote strategically. Rank candidates in the order you prefer them, even if you think they have a lower chance of winning.
• Don’t skip ranking: You can rank as many or as few candidates as you like,but ranking more candidates increases the likelihood that your vote will count.
• Focus on the candidates’ stances: Pay close attention to each candidateS stances on the issues. This helps you make informed decisions.
• Stay informed: Follow the news and election updates to stay current with campaign developments.

Myths vs.Facts about Ranked-Choice Voting

There are misconceptions about how ranked-choice voting works. Here’s a breakdown to clarify some common myths:

Myth: Ranked-choice voting is too complicated.

Fact: While it may seem unfamiliar, the concept is straightforward: rank your choices. Most voters find the process easy and intuitive after experiencing it.

Myth: Ranked-choice voting always leads to different outcomes than traditional voting.

Fact: In many cases, the initial winner would still win. though, ranked-choice voting can sometimes favor candidates with broader appeal, leading to less polarized outcomes.

Myth: Ranked-choice voting benefits one political party over another.

Fact: Research shows ranked-choice voting does not inherently favor any particular party. It is designed to encourage broader appeal and more democratic results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions about ranked-choice voting:

Q: Why use ranked-choice voting?

A: Ranked-choice voting encourages candidates to appeal to a wider range of voters, reduces the chance of a “spoiler” candidate, and ensures the winner has broad support.

Q: What happens if my top choice is eliminated?

A: Your vote automatically goes to your second-choice candidate. This ensures that your vote continues to count. If your second choice is also eliminated, it proceeds to your third choice, and so on.

Q: Does ranked-choice voting take longer to count?

A: Yes, the full process takes a bit longer than traditional voting because of the tabulation rounds. Though,the use of computers makes the process relatively quick.

Q: Can ranked-choice voting affect voter turnout?

A: Some studies suggest that ranked-choice voting increases voter turnout, particularly for peopel who feel they are voting for their true preference.