Ranked-Choice Voting Practice Ballot

The Alameda County Registrar of Voters’ Office offers a Ranked-Choice Voting Practice Ballot tool to help voters familiarize themselves with the ranked-choice voting (RCV) system used in Berkeley, Oakland, and San Leandro Elections.

Understanding Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV):

In RCV, voters can rank candidates in order of preference—first choice, second choice, third choice, and so on. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Voters who selected the eliminated candidate as their first choice have their votes transferred to their next preferred candidate. This process repeats until a candidate secures a majority.

Using the Practice Ballot Tool:

  1. Access the Tool:
  2. Select Your Preferred Language:
    • Choose from English, 中文 (Chinese), Español (Spanish), Tagalog or Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) by clicking the corresponding link at the top of the page.
  3. Rank the Candidates:
    • You'll see a list of candidates with columns labeled for each choice (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.).
    • To rank a candidate as your first choice, fill in the oval in the "1st Rank" column next to their name.
    • For your second choice, fill in the oval in the "2nd Rank" column next to your next preferred candidate, and so on.
    • Important: Do not select more than one oval in the same column, as this would indicate multiple candidates for the same choice and could invalidate your vote.
  4. Submit or Reset:
    • After making your selections, you can click "Submit" to see how your ranked choices are processed.
    • If you wish to start over, click "Reset" to clear all your selections.

Benefits of the Practice Tool:

  • Familiarization: It allows voters to become comfortable with the RCV system before casting an official ballot.
  • Error Reduction: Practicing can help minimize mistakes, such as selecting multiple candidates for the same choice.
  • Confidence Building: By understanding the process, voters can feel more confident that their votes will be counted as intended.

For more detailed information on ranked-choice voting in Alameda County, visit the Ranked-Choice Voting webpage. Utilizing this practice tool is a proactive step to ensure your vote accurately reflects your preferences in Alameda County's elections.