Election Day is right around the corner, and this year, our ballots look a little different! Portland is introducing Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in a historic first, which means more choice and a stronger voice for every voter.
In RCV, you can rank candidates in order of preference—1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.—in single-winner and multi-winner contests:
- Single-Winner Races (Mayor and Auditor): If your top choice doesn’t gather enough votes, your vote transfers to your next choice until one candidate has a majority and wins.
- Multi-Winner Races (City Council by district): Three representatives will be elected per district. If a candidate surpasses the necessary vote percentage to win, extra votes are transferred to voters’ next preferences, allowing for proportional representation and ensuring more community voices are represented.
How To Fill Out Your Ballot
- Rank Candidates: List your preferred candidates from 1st to 6th choice. Your first choice will get counted first. If they don’t have enough votes to win, your vote moves to your next choice!
- Complete Your Ballot Carefully: Be sure to only rank one candidate per column. If you need to change your ranking, simply draw an “X” through the incorrect selection and fill in your new choice. You can also request a new ballot if you need a fresh start.
- Track Your Ballot: Multnomah County has an easy tracking system, available in multiple languages, to confirm your ballot was received and counted. Check it out here.
Remember: only one candidate can be your #1! In all Portland ranked-choice elections, do not rank more than one candidate in any one column. Make sure to correct this information with your friends, family and neighbors! You can watch this short video for a clear and engaging explanation.
Ready to try it out? For practice, check out the City’s mock RCV ballots to get familiar before Election Day. For questions, call 3-1-1 or email elections@portlandoregon.gov. And remember, the only accurate place for Portland RCV results on election night is the Multnomah County Elections website.