This section introduces how ranked ballots behave in situations that are less common but can still affect outcomes. These include ties between candidates during counting and cases where voters express equal preference or choose not to rank all candidates.

Ties During Counting

In some elections, candidates may be tied at a key stage of counting, such as a tie for elimination or for advancement to a later round. Different systems use different methods to resolve these ties, including predefined rules, earlier-round results, or random methods such as flipping coins or drawing lots. These choices can matter. When a tie occurs at a critical stage, the way it is resolved can affect how later votes are transferred and, in some cases, the final outcome. This section will explore how different systems handle these situations.

Indifference Between Candidates

Voters may not always have a strict preference between all candidates. In some cases, they may rank only a few choices, or they may view multiple candidates as equally acceptable. How these situations are handled depends on the ballot design and counting rules. In general, a ballot only continues during counting if it includes a preference among the remaining candidates. This means that the way a voter completes a ballot can affect how long it remains active as counting progresses.

This section will explore how different systems interpret these choices and how they affect election results.