NYC mayor election outcomes: How does ranked alternative voting work?

Jun 25, 2025 09:04 AM IST

The ranked alternative voting system permits voters to rank candidates so as of desire reasonably than choose only one.

New York City is utilizing ranked alternative voting in its Democratic mayoral main election happening Tuesday, June 24. The system permits voters to rank candidates so as of desire reasonably than choose only one.

Supporters of Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani cheer as they watch outcomes are available at his main election get together, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)(AP)

Those who help ranked alternative voting consider it builds consensus, promotes optimistic campaigning and permits voters to precise a fuller vary of opinions. Opponents, nevertheless, consider the system is simply too sophisticated and will result in ballots being thrown out.

Here’s how ranked alternative voting works

In this method, the variety of candidates a voter can rank depends upon the particular guidelines in an space. In New York City, as many as 5 candidates may be ranked in a single race. 

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Voters, nevertheless, will not be required to fill their ballots. A voter who helps just one candidate can simply choose that one individual. However, ought to that candidate not get essentially the most votes, that voter can have no say within the later rounds of counting.

The last-place candidate is eradicated after the votes are tabulated. Subsequently, ballots from voters who supported that candidate have the following alternative counted. The counting continues if not one of the candidates hit 50%, and finally one other last-place candidate is eradicated. The next-ranked selections on all these ballots within the subsequent spherical are counted. This course of continues till a candidate lastly reaches majority help, and wins.

How lengthy it takes to depend the votes depends upon the place the election is. For occasion, in New York City, the Board of Elections will put up unofficial outcomes from the primary spherical of votes on election evening.

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Preliminary elimination rounds are then tabulated every week later, with officers posting an unofficial report, in keeping with the elections board. With mail and affidavit ballots being processed, the outcomes may change.

It usually takes longer to challenge winners on this system as election authorities want to make sure every poll counted earlier than they know in what order they’d get rid of last-place finishers. Counting and processing mail-in ballots, provisional votes and others can take time.