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."
Interesting that last sentence - it talks about choosing more than one person as your first choice; not at all what the earlier sentences were talking about. Sorta bait and switch in my opinion.
Myself, after studying it I've decided that even if they throw out ALL my choices of the same person for #1,2,3, and 4 when they eliminate my first choice, at least I'm not voting for someone I don't want. And I'm not leaving any spaces blank so to disqualify my ballot. It seems to be the best way to neuter the ranked choice nonsense.
Yep. I get it. I only have 2 candidates I'm considering. Lisa isn't getting a rank from me no matter what. I'm also going to fill in all the circles for same candidates. It's in God's hands.
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."
Interesting that last sentence - it talks about choosing more than one person as your first choice; not at all what the earlier sentences were talking about. Sorta bait and switch in my opinion.
Myself, after studying it I've decided that even if they throw out ALL my choices of the same person for #1,2,3, and 4 when they eliminate my first choice, at least I'm not voting for someone I don't want. And I'm not leaving any spaces blank so to disqualify my ballot. It seems to be the best way to neuter the ranked choice nonsense.
Yep. I get it. I only have 2 candidates I'm considering. Lisa isn't getting a rank from me no matter what. I'm also going to fill in all the circles for same candidates. It's in God's hands.
I believe they can recall it after the 2 years. Here's to hoping.