Improperly Filled Ballots

There is never a tactical advantage to filling out a ballot improperly, although in some cases the choice of the voter can still be determined and counted.

 

D. In the First Pass, one first choice candidate is selected. In the Second Pass, no first choice is selected and one second choice is, from the two remaining candidates.

	First Pass	1st	2nd		Second Pass	1st	2nd
	Candidate A	○	●		Candidate A    ✓	○	●
	Candidate B	○	○		Candidate B	○	○
	Candidate C    ✓	●	●		Candidate C	●	●
	Candidate D	○	○		Candidate D	○	○

 

E. The order of ranks is 1st choice > 2nd choice > unselected. The same rules apply to both rounds. In this example, candidate A receives the vote in both rounds.

	First Pass	1st	2nd		Second Pass	1st	2nd
	Candidate A    ✓	○	●		Candidate A    ✓	○	●
	Candidate B	○	○		Candidate B	○	○
	Candidate C	○	○		Candidate C	○	○
	Candidate D	○	○		Candidate D	○	○

 

F. In this example, two first choice candidates are selected in the first pass, so no vote is counted. In the second pass, between candidates A and B, this voter’s preference is clear.

	First Pass	1st	2nd		Second Pass	1st	2nd
	Candidate A	○	○		Candidate A	○	○
	Candidate B	●	○		Candidate B    ✓	●	○
	Candidate C	●	○		Candidate C	●	○
	Candidate D	○	○		Candidate D	○	○
	No vote is counted

 

G. A ballot with choices for more than two total candidates is disqualified. This ensures that a properly filled out ballot is the optimal way to vote.

	First Pass	1st	2nd		Second Pass	1st	2nd
	Candidate A	○	○		Candidate A	○	○
	Candidate B	○	●		Candidate B	○	●
	Candidate C	●	○		Candidate C	●	○
	Candidate D	○	●		Candidate D	○	●
	Ballot is disqualified.				Ballot is disqualified.