Nope; they're trying to deceive us. Notice in the last example two circles are not filled in: if you fill them in w the same person, your ballot DOES count. They're saying in other places that doing this "doesn't harness the power of ranked choice." But it's absolutely allowed. Here's the example from the folks who sponsored ranked choice in 2020: https://alaskansforbetterelections.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ABE-How-to-use-your-ballot.pdf (Check out the very bottom example.)
(This is the website for the people who promoted Prop 2 back in 2020.)
Just have to fill out all the bubbles -- can't leave any blank, or it may be thrown out.
Since multiple ranks for the same candidate would be wasted, if there is another candidate that you wouldn't mind, I would go ahead and rank them. But, if you only want the one #1, I would try giving them all the ranks, just to keep them from using my empty circles!
At this point, I'll do my best and see how hard those cheaters are going to cheat.
So, yes, you Can put 2nd-4th for the same 1st choice candidate and your ballot would still be good. BUT those 2nd-4th ranks will not count towards anyone.
From the pdf: "Multiple votes for the same candidate won't spoil your ballot, but it won't increase that candidate's chance of winning."
From the division of Elections:
"Do I have to rank all candidates in the general election?
No. You may rank as many or as few candidates as you would like. If you do not want to rank a candidate, leave their column blank. Be sure to NOT assign the same ranking to more than one candidate or assign all rankings to one candidate.
Can I rank my favorite candidate as my first, second, and third choice, and so on?
You should not assign all rankings to a single candidate in a race. If you rank your preferred candidate more than once, for example as your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th choice, then only your first ranking will count. Ranking a particular candidate more than once does not benefit the candidate. If a voter ranks a single candidate as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice, and so on, it is the same as leaving the second, third choice, and so on, blank. If you choose more than one candidate in a race as your 1st choice, your vote for that race will not be valid."
https://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/RCV.php
So, the ak election gov website says that they will not count it if you try to vote for the same candidate across all ranks.
Do you have a source for different info for me? I'm haven't found it for myself yet.
Go look at the legislation itself.
I don’t see it. I just keep finding the court cases. I must be brain farting.
Here's the explanation from the experts:
Nope; they're trying to deceive us. Notice in the last example two circles are not filled in: if you fill them in w the same person, your ballot DOES count. They're saying in other places that doing this "doesn't harness the power of ranked choice." But it's absolutely allowed. Here's the example from the folks who sponsored ranked choice in 2020: https://alaskansforbetterelections.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ABE-How-to-use-your-ballot.pdf (Check out the very bottom example.)
(This is the website for the people who promoted Prop 2 back in 2020.)
Just have to fill out all the bubbles -- can't leave any blank, or it may be thrown out.
Since multiple ranks for the same candidate would be wasted, if there is another candidate that you wouldn't mind, I would go ahead and rank them. But, if you only want the one #1, I would try giving them all the ranks, just to keep them from using my empty circles!
At this point, I'll do my best and see how hard those cheaters are going to cheat.
So, yes, you Can put 2nd-4th for the same 1st choice candidate and your ballot would still be good. BUT those 2nd-4th ranks will not count towards anyone.
From the pdf: "Multiple votes for the same candidate won't spoil your ballot, but it won't increase that candidate's chance of winning."
From the division of Elections: "Do I have to rank all candidates in the general election? No. You may rank as many or as few candidates as you would like. If you do not want to rank a candidate, leave their column blank. Be sure to NOT assign the same ranking to more than one candidate or assign all rankings to one candidate.
Can I rank my favorite candidate as my first, second, and third choice, and so on? You should not assign all rankings to a single candidate in a race. If you rank your preferred candidate more than once, for example as your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th choice, then only your first ranking will count. Ranking a particular candidate more than once does not benefit the candidate. If a voter ranks a single candidate as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice, and so on, it is the same as leaving the second, third choice, and so on, blank. If you choose more than one candidate in a race as your 1st choice, your vote for that race will not be valid."