Understanding Ranked Choice Voting

En español | Election Day is around the corner and AARP California is here to connect you to resources about when, where, and how to vote. AARP is actively informing voters about changes to elections, key dates, and other crucial information that all voters should know.

California has introduced Ranked Choice Voting in several cities, offering voters a new way to select their preferred candidates. That’s why it’s important to understand the specifics before casting your vote.

What is Ranked Choice Voting?
Ranked choice voting allows voters to list their candidates in order of preference when marking their ballots: first choice, second choice, third choice and so on.

How Are Votes Counted?
In its most common form, a candidate with a majority of first-choice votes is declared the winner but if no one receives a majority, the process is repeated until a candidate receives the majority of first-choice votes.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to rank all candidates, but you must select your top choice, and you can’t give two candidates the same ranking.

Ranked Choice Voting in Alameda County
According to Official Election Site of Alameda County, “voters in Albany, Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro will use Ranked-Choice Voting to elect most local officials. Ranked-Choice Voting does not affect the election of County, State and federal officials or the approval or rejection of ballot measures.”

Elections Using Ranked Choice Voting
Per the Official Election Site of Alameda County:

• Albany voters use Ranked-Choice Voting to elect Members of the City Council and the Members of the Board of Education. 
• Berkeley voters use Ranked-Choice Voting to elect the Mayor, Members of the City Council, and the City Auditor. 
• Oakland elects its Mayor, City Council members, City Attorney, City Auditor, and School Directors using Ranked-Choice Voting. 
• San Leandro uses Ranked-Choice Voting to elect its Mayor and City Council members. 

How It Works
Ethel, Charlie, Alma, Jamie and Dani are running for office. After the polls close, Ethel receives a majority of first-choice votes and is declared the winner.

But what if no one receives a majority of votes? Then, an elimination process begins, and the candidate with the fewest votes is removed. If your top choice is eliminated, your votes are transferred to your next choice candidate.

This process is repeated until one candidate has a majority and wins.

Important Dates for Election

• Oct. 21 - Last Day of Regular Registration  
• Oct. 22 - First Day of Conditional Registration 
• Oct. 29 - Last Day to Apply for Replacement Absentee Ballot  
• Nov. 5 – General Election  

Resources
Check your city’s elections website to find out if your city participates in ranked choice voting, visit, Alameda County Registrar of Voters website.

For more general voter resources, visit aarp.org/CAVotes.