(A) Definitions. For purposes of this subchapter, the following words, terms and phrases have these definitions:
CHOICE. An indication on a ballot of a voter's assigned ranking of candidates (i.e., first choice, second choice, third choice, etc.) for any single office, according to the voter's preference.
CONTINUING BALLOT. A ballot that counts towards a continuing candidate.
CONTINUING CANDIDATE. A candidate that has not been eliminated. In the first round of counting, this means all candidates including write-ins.
EXHAUSTED BALLOT. A ballot whose continuing candidates have all been eliminated shall be declared "exhausted" and shall not count towards any candidate in that round or in subsequent rounds.
FINAL ROUND. The round in which there are only two continuing candidates.
MAJORITY OF VOTES. Fifty percent of the votes plus one.
NEXT RANKED. The highest ranked choice for a continuing candidate.
OVERVOTING. An overvote occurs when an elector has ranked more than one candidate for the same ranking. For example, if an elector selects more than one candidate to be their first (or second, or third, etc.) choice.
RANKED CHOICE VOTING. An election system in which voters rank the candidates for office in order of preference, and the ballots are counted in rounds that simulate a series of runoffs until the final round, whereupon the one of those two candidates with the majority of votes is determined to be the winner. RANKED CHOICE VOTING is also known as "instant runoff voting."
ROUND OF COUNTING or ROUND. A step in the counting process during which votes for all continuing candidates are tabulated for the purpose of determining which candidate has achieved a majority of the votes cast for a particular office, and, if no candidate has achieved a majority, which candidate or candidates must be eliminated.
SKIPPED RANKING. Occurs when an elector leaves a ranking blank and then ranks a candidate in a subsequent ranking. For example, if an elector selects a first-choice candidate and a third-choice candidate, but does not select a second-choice candidate.
UNDERVOTING. A ballot that has not candidates indicated at any ranking shall be declared an "undervote" and shall not count towards any candidate in that round or in subsequent rounds.
VOTE.
A ballot choice that is counted toward the election of a candidate. During each round of counting, each continuing ballot contains one vote. All first choices are votes and lower ranked choices are potential runoff votes that may, in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, become votes that are subsequently credited for a continuing candidate.
(Ord. 928-C.S., passed 12-7-21; Am. Ord. 955-C.S., passed 7-16-24)