NYC Democratic Primary Voting Guide

Understanding Ranked Choice Voting

Learn how ranked choice voting works and why you should not rank Andrew Cuomo on your ballot.

How Ranked Choice Voting Works

NYC uses ranked choice voting for primary and special elections. Here's what you need to know.

1

Rank Your Top 5 Candidates

In NYC's ranked choice voting system, you can rank up to 5 candidates in order of preference. This gives you more choice and ensures your vote has greater impact.

Rank Your Top 5 Candidates
2

First Choices Are Counted

Initially, only first-choice votes are counted. If a candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes, they win outright.

First Choices Are Counted
3

Elimination Rounds Begin

If no candidate receives more than 50%, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. If your first choice is eliminated, your vote goes to your second choice.

Elimination Rounds Begin
4

Process Continues

This process continues until a candidate has more than 50% of the votes or only two candidates remain.

Process Continues
5

Why Not Rank Cuomo?

If you want a mayor who will fight for working class families, immigrants, and communities of color, it's important not to rank Andrew Cuomo at all. Even ranking him as your 5th choice could help him win if your higher-ranked candidates are eliminated. Remember: You don't have to use all 5 rankings.

Why Not Rank Cuomo?

Important: Don't Waste Your Vote

Remember that you don't have to rank all five candidates. If you want to ensure a working class candidate wins, you can simply rank your top choices and leave Cuomo off your ballot entirely.

Even ranking Cuomo as your 5th choice could help him win if your higher-ranked candidates are eliminated. The “Anyone But Cuomo” strategy means exactly that—don't rank him at all.

Strategic Voting in the NYC Mayoral Race

How to make your vote count for working class candidates.

The ABC Strategy: Anyone But Cuomo

Andrew Cuomo's entry into the mayoral race presents a challenge for working class voters. His name recognition and fundraising ability could allow him to advance through multiple rounds of ranked choice voting, even if he's not most voters' first choice.

The “Anyone But Cuomo” (ABC) strategy is more than a slogan—it's a strategy for ensuring that a working class candidate who represents the interests of working New Yorkers wins this election. Not someone who looks out for their rich friends and corporate donors and not someone who sexually harassed, discriminated against, and bullied, the very people he's supposed to protect..

This approach maximizes the chance that one of these working class candidates will win, rather than splitting the working class vote and allowing Cuomo to benefit.

How to Fill Out Your Ballot

  1. Research the candidates: Use this guide to learn about where each candidate stands on the issues that matter most to you.
  2. Rank your favorites: Choose up to five candidates and rank them in order of preference.
  3. Leave Cuomo off your ballot: Do not include Andrew Cuomo in your rankings, not even as your 5th choice.
  4. Fill in the bubbles completely: Make sure to fill in the bubbles on your ballot completely and clearly.
  5. Submit your ballot: Follow the instructions at your polling place to submit your completed ballot.