City elections will be a Ranked Choice Voting system. Here’s what you need to know

The New York City Board of Elections and News 12 have been getting out the word about ranked choice voting so you are ready when you hit the polls.

News 12 Staff

Jun 11, 2021, 1:18 PM

Updated 1,048 days ago

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As you get ready to vote in the city elections, remember it will be different from years past.
Ranked Choice Voting will be used this time around.
The New York City Board of Elections and News 12 have been getting out the word about ranked choice voting so you are ready when you hit the polls.
Instead of filling in just one bubble, you can fill in up to five.
Your first choice would be number 1, second choice would be number 2 and so on.
If you still just want to pick one candidate, that's fine too.
Once the votes are in, everyone's first choice votes are tallied.
If one candidate has more than 50% of the votes, that's it and that candidate wins.
If no candidate hits that threshold, which is very tough in a crowded race with many candidates, then Ranked Choice Voting is used.
The candidate with the fewest first choice votes on election night is eliminated.
For anyone who voted for that person as their first choice, their second-choice vote is now used instead.
This continues round by round until there are just two candidates left, and the candidate with the most votes wins.
Ranked Choice Voting may be tough to understand, but this already played out back in March during special elections in the Bronx in the 11th City Council District race.
On election night, Eric Dinowitz held over 46% of the first-place votes, but it wasn't a majority, so Ranked Choice Voting was implemented.
There were six rounds of Ranked Choice Voting until just two candidates remained.
Weeks later, Dinowitz was ultimately declared the winner with over 58% of the vote.
Early voting starts Saturday and runs through June 20.
Primary Election Day is on June 22, a week from Tuesday.


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