If you are registered to vote in New York City, you have likely heard the term ranked choice voting. But what does it actually mean when you step into the booth? How does your ballot get counted? And which races use this system? This guide answers every question NYC residents have about ranked choice voting — from the basics to what to expect in the June 23, 2026 Primary Election.
What Is Ranked Choice Voting?
Ranked choice voting (RCV) is a system that lets you rank candidates in order of preference, rather than picking just one. Instead of a single vote, you express your 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice, 4th choice, and 5th choice — or as many as you like, up to five.
New York City adopted ranked choice voting in 2019 when 73.5 percent of NYC voters approved an amendment to the City Charter. The system applies to Primary and Special Elections for five offices: Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, and City Council.
The goal is straightforward: ranked choice voting gives voters more say and ensures the winning candidate has broader support across the electorate.
Which NYC Elections Use Ranked Choice Voting?
RCV is used in Primary Elections and Special Elections only for the following five citywide and local offices:
- Mayor
- Public Advocate
- Comptroller
- Borough President (all five boroughs)
- City Council (all 51 districts)
Ranked choice voting does not apply to General Elections, or to federal, state, or most judicial races. Offices like President, Governor, U.S. Senate, Congress, State Senate, State Assembly, District Attorney, and court judgeships use the traditional single-vote system.
The most recent NYC election using RCV was the April 28, 2026 Special Election for the 3rd City Council District in Manhattan. The next RCV election is the June 23, 2026 Primary Election, with early voting running June 13 through June 21.
How to Mark Your Ranked Choice Ballot
Your ranked choice ballot looks different from a standard ballot. Instead of one column with candidates, you will see multiple columns labeled Choice 1, Choice 2, Choice 3, Choice 4, and Choice 5.
Here is how to fill it out correctly:
- Fill in the oval next to your top candidate in the Choice 1 column. This is your first-choice vote and is counted first in every round.
- Move to the Choice 2 column and fill in the oval next to your second-preference candidate. This candidate will receive your vote only if your first choice is eliminated from the race.
- Continue through the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Choice columns as desired. You do not have to fill in all five — ranking two or three candidates is perfectly valid.
Two rules to remember: you may select only one candidate per column, and you cannot rank the same candidate more than once. If you rank the same candidate first, second, and third, it is treated the same as leaving the second and third choices blank — it provides no additional benefit.
If you prefer to vote for just one candidate, you can. Fill in only the Choice 1 column and leave the rest blank. Your vote is complete and valid.
How Votes Are Counted: The Round-by-Round Process
This is where ranked choice voting works differently from a traditional election. Here is exactly how the NYC Board of Elections counts the votes:
Round 1
All first-choice votes are counted. If one candidate receives more than 50 percent of first-choice votes, that candidate wins immediately and the election is over. In races with many competitive candidates, this threshold is rarely met in Round 1.
Round 2 and Beyond
If no candidate clears 50 percent, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Every ballot that ranked that candidate as a first choice now transfers to the voter’s second-choice candidate. All remaining candidates’ vote totals are recalculated with the transferred votes included.
This process repeats each round. The last-place candidate is eliminated, their voters’ ballots move to each ballot’s next-ranked remaining candidate, and totals are updated. Crucially, if your first and second choices are both eliminated, your vote moves to your third choice — and so on down your ranked list.
Final Round
The elimination rounds continue until only two candidates remain. The candidate with the most votes among those two wins the election.
At no point does ranking additional candidates hurt your first-choice candidate. Your second-choice vote is only activated if and when your first choice is eliminated. Ranking more candidates simply ensures your ballot stays active for as many rounds as possible.
What Happens If Your Ranked Candidates Are All Eliminated?
If every candidate you ranked gets eliminated before the final two remain, your ballot becomes what is called an exhausted ballot. It is counted in early rounds but does not carry forward to rounds where none of your ranked choices are still in the race. This is why voters are often encouraged to rank up to all five candidates even if some are not their top preferences — it maximizes the likelihood that the ballot continues to count in later rounds.
When Will Results Be Available After an RCV Election?
This is one of the most common points of confusion for NYC voters. The timeline works like this, per the NYC Board of Elections:
- Election Night: Unofficial results are posted after polls close at 9 p.m. These include first-choice votes from early voting, Election Day, and valid mail ballots already canvassed. This is Round 1 only — it does not reflect the full RCV count.
- One Week After Election Day: The Board of Elections releases preliminary RCV elimination round results. This is the first time the complete round-by-round tabulation is visible. These results also include additional mail ballots processed by that point.
- Weekly Updates: RCV tallies are updated every week as more mail ballots and affidavit ballots are processed and cure deadlines expire.
- Official Certification: Final certified results are not available until every ballot type — early mail, absentee, military, affidavit, and emergency — is fully counted. Candidate rankings can continue to shift throughout this process.
The key takeaway: do not interpret election night results as the final outcome in an RCV race. In competitive contests, the round-by-round process can significantly change who is leading. The full picture may not be clear for several weeks after Election Day.
Ranked Choice Voting and the June 23, 2026 Primary Election
The next NYC election using ranked choice voting is the Primary Election on June 23, 2026. This primary covers citywide offices including Mayor, Comptroller, and Public Advocate, as well as Borough President and City Council races across all five boroughs.
Early voting for the June 23 primary runs from Saturday, June 13 through Sunday, June 21, 2026, with poll sites open across multiple days and hours. Election Day polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. For complete information on finding your poll site and early voting locations, see our NYC polling site, early voting, and mail ballot guide.
Because multiple candidates are expected to compete in several of these races, the RCV counting process may run many rounds before a winner emerges. Voters are encouraged to rank as many candidates as they genuinely prefer to keep their ballots active through later rounds.
Common Misconceptions About Ranked Choice Voting
Misconception: Ranking other candidates hurts my first choice.
This is false. Your second, third, fourth, and fifth choices are only activated if your first choice is eliminated. They have no effect on Round 1.
Misconception: You must rank all five candidates.
This is false. You can rank as many or as few as you like, up to five. Ranking just one candidate is a complete and valid ballot.
Misconception: Ranking the same candidate multiple times helps them win.
This is false. Ranking the same candidate in multiple columns is treated as if those extra columns are blank. It provides no benefit and prevents your backup preferences from counting.
Misconception: The candidate leading on election night always wins.
Not necessarily. In races with many candidates, the full round-by-round process — released about one week after Election Day — can change the outcome significantly. Election night shows Round 1 results only.
Misconception: RCV is used in all NYC elections.
This is false. RCV applies only to Primary and Special Elections for Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, and City Council. General Elections and state and federal races use the standard single-vote method.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ranked Choice Voting in NYC
What is ranked choice voting in New York City?
Ranked choice voting is a ballot system in which voters rank candidates in order of preference — first choice, second choice, and so on, up to five candidates. It is used in NYC Primary and Special Elections for Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, and City Council. It was approved by 73.5 percent of NYC voters in November 2019.
How many candidates can I rank on an NYC ranked choice ballot?
You can rank up to five candidates. You are not required to rank all five — you may rank as few as one. Ranking more candidates keeps your ballot active in later elimination rounds if your earlier choices are eliminated.
Does ranking a second choice hurt my first choice candidate?
No. Your second, third, fourth, and fifth choices are only counted if and when your first choice is eliminated in a later round. Ranking additional candidates cannot affect your first choice in Round 1.
Which NYC elections use ranked choice voting?
RCV applies to Primary Elections and Special Elections for Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, and City Council. It does not apply to General Elections or to state and federal offices such as Governor, Congress, or State Senate.
When are full ranked choice voting results released?
Unofficial first-choice results are posted on election night. The full round-by-round RCV tabulation is released approximately one week after Election Day. Results continue to update weekly until the election is officially certified.
What happens if all the candidates I ranked are eliminated?
If every candidate you ranked is eliminated before the final two remain, your ballot becomes exhausted and is not counted in later rounds. To reduce this risk, rank up to all five candidates you find acceptable, even if some are not your top preference.
When is the next NYC election using ranked choice voting?
The next RCV election is the Primary Election on June 23, 2026. Early voting runs June 13 through June 21, 2026. For poll site information, visit our NYC polling site and early voting guide.
Sources
- NYC Board of Elections — Ranked Choice Voting (verified April 29, 2026)
- NYC Board of Elections — Upcoming Elections 2026 (verified April 29, 2026)
