How ranked choice voting works: A guide ahead of New York City's primary

When New Yorkers fill out ballots in Tuesday’s mayoral primary, they’ll be able to choose more than just one candidate.

When New Yorkers fill out ballots in Tuesday’s mayoral primary, they’ll be able to choose more than just one candidate. They can pick a second choice. And a third. And a fourth. And a fifth.

It’s part of a process called ranked choice voting, a system that lets voters rank candidates in order of preference rather than pick just one.

Supporters of the system say ranked choice voting builds consensus, promotes positive campaigning and lets voters express a fuller range of opinions. Opponents argue it’s overly complicated and can lead to ballots’ being thrown out.

Here’s what you need to know about ranked choice voting.

Ranked choice voting is a method of voting in which people rank candidates in order of preference. The number of candidates voters can rank depends on the specific rules in an area. In New York City, voters can rank up to five in one race.