The ballots will provide columns for six rankings. Voters choose a favorite in the first column and can rank additional candidates as backup choices. Ranking more candidates is optional.

The county’s ranked-choice voting project manager, Leah Benson, said election staff are building on preparations made for Portland’s first ranked-choice election in 2024. This year, the county has focused outreach on east Multnomah County, where voters are encountering the system for the first time.

Portland and Multnomah County voters approved measures adopting ranked-choice voting in 2022. Portland used it in 2024 to elect city officials; this election is the first time voters outside Portland will use the method in county contests.

For a contest with one winner, a candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote. If no candidate reaches that threshold, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and those ballots are counted for each voter’s next-ranked candidate. The process continues until a candidate has a majority.

Ranked-choice results will be posted on the county’s results website. The county expects to publish results at 8 p.m. on election night, including data on ballots received, scanned and counted by that time. Because votes are tabulated in rounds, the results may look different from those in contests decided by a single vote tally.

Voters who need help can call 311 from anywhere in the county or visit multco.us/RCV for instructions, a demonstration video and a mock election. In-person assistance is available at the county elections office at 11th Avenue and Morrison Street in Southeast Portland and at the Voting Center Express in Gresham’s East County Building.

County officials say voters can correct a marked oval they do not want counted by drawing a large, clear X through it.