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Overview
The Salt Lake City Council passed a resolution, opting for Salt Lake City to participate in the Municipal Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project, more commonly known as Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), for the 2025 Municipal General Election, November 4, 2025. Salt Lake City also used Ranked Choice Voting for the 2021 and 2023elections.
A ranked-choice voting system lets voters rank candidates by preference on their ballots. If a candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, they win. If no one gets a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated. Votes for the eliminated candidate are given to the voters’ next choice. This process is repeated until one candidate wins a majority. Watch the video to learn more!
Quick Points about RCV in Salt Lake City
- Ranked Choice Voting lets voters rank candidates in the order they prefer.
- In Salt Lake City, voters will be able to rank up to 10 candidates
- If there are 10 candidates, voters can rank all 10. If there are 5 candidates, they can rank up to 5.
Important Dates
- In 2025, there will be no primary race for the Municipal Election
- The Declaration of Candidacy period is open August 12-19. This is when candidates formally say they’re running for office and could add the candidates name on the ballot.
- General Election (Election Day) is on November 4, 2025
- People who want to run for office can start campaigning anytime, as long as they open a Personal Campaign Committee with the Recorder’s Office to raise or spending money.
- Find more information about Salt Lake City’s Municipal Election here.
Candidate Guide
Examples of RCV Style Ballots
*These sample ballots were provided by Salt Lake County for the 2021 election and are not specific to Salt Lake City or the State of Utah and are a demonstration of an RCV ballot.
Salt Lake City RCV Example Ballot
*This ballot was the sample ballot provided by Salt Lake County in 2021 for the Municipal General Election, this ballot has no reflection of the 2025 Municipal General Election and is meant to be used as an example.
RCV Materials Provided by Utah Ranked Choice Voting
*Utah Ranked Choice Voting is a non-partisan group dedicated to being resource for municipal governments as they prepare to pilot ranked choice voting.
Ranked Choice Voting in Utah Cities Handout
Dates and Deadlines
| Calendar Date | Event or Action Required | Statutory Deadline or Date | Utah Code Citation(s) |
| August 12, 2025 to August 19, 2025 | Filing period for Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) candidates | No sooner than the second Tuesday in August and no later than the third Tuesday in August. Office hours must be maintained between 8-5 during weekdays. If the normal office hours are not 8-5, the city/town recorder must post the notice and be available. subject to 10-3-301(3)(b)(ii). | 20A-4-602(6) |
| September 19, 2025 | UOCAVA ballots sent | Not later than 45 days before the election (falls on a weekend and moved to the previous business day). | 20A-16-403(1) |
| October 14, 2025 | First day to send mail/absentee ballots to active registered voters. | No sooner than 21 days before election day. | 20A-3a-202(2)(a) |
| October 21, 2025 | In-person early voting period begins. | 14 days before election day. | 20A-3a-601(2)(a) |
| October 24, 2025 | Last day to register to vote (in-person, online, by mail) | 11 days before the election (Friday is an observed holiday, moved to Monday) | 20A-2-102.5 |
| October 28, 2025 | Last day to send mail/absentee ballots to active registered voters. | No later than 7 days before election day. | 20A-3a-202(2)(a) |
| November 4, 2025 | GENERAL ELECTION | ||
| TBD | General Election Board of Canvassers deadline | No later than 14 days after the election. | 20A-4-301(1)(b) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick bullet points:
- Ranked Choice Voting lets voters rank candidates by preference.
- In Salt Lake City, voters will be able to rank up to 10 candidates.
- Voters will be able to rank up to 10 candidates per race on their ballot
- For example, if there are 10 candidates, voters can rank all10; if there are 5 candidates, only 5 ranking spots will be shown.
Date Changes
- There will be no Primary Election.
- Declaration of Candidacy will now be held August 12-19, 2025, Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. This is when candidates officially declare to run for office and get on the ballot.
- The General Election (Election Day) remains on November 4, 2025. Early voting may start around October 21, 2025.
- Anyone who wants to run can start campaigning anytime, as long as they open a Personal Campaign Committee with the Recorder’s Office to raise or spend funds.
What is Ranked Choice Voting?
Ranked Choice Voting (also known as Instant Runoff Voting) is often used for single-winner elections. This method was used in 23 cities in 2021 and in 12 cities in 2023, including Salt Lake City. See the full list of participating cities at https://vote.utah.gov/current-election-information/. The method helps reduce vote splitting (choosing one over the other).
Voters rank candidates instead of just picking one candidate or voting against a candidate they may like. In Salt Lake City, voters will be able to rank up to 10 candidates depending on how many run.
How does it work?
Ballots are printed with the names of the candidates and up to 10 ranking spots. Voters fill in the bubble under their preferred ranking for each candidate. More detailed ballot instructions will be provided with every ballot mailed.
The vote counting works like this:
- If a candidate gets over 50% of the vote, they win.
- If no one gets over 50%, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Those votes move to the next ranked choice on each ballot. This continues until someone gets over 50% and wins.
What order will the candidates be in?
Candidates are listed based on a preset alphabet rotation called the ‘Master Ballot Position List’, which is established in accordance with §20A-6-305.
Below is the current Master Ballot Position List and the order that the 2025 ballot will be in:
MASTER BALLOT POSITION LIST
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| B | Z | C | W | R | E | N | A | J | Y |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| M | K | S | G | L | F | T | X | P | U |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| O | V | H | I | Q | D |
Candidates are listed in order based on: The candidate’s last name listed on their candidacy form.
- If two or more last names start with the same letter, the list applies to the next letter in the candidates last names.
- If two or more candidates have the same last name, the list applies to their first name.
What happens if the voter chooses only one candidate?
If the voter chooses one candidate, and the candidate is eliminated, the vote does not transfer to anyone else.
What happens if the voter skips a number in ranking candidates?
A ranking is not considered valid if a voter gives more than one candidate the same rank or skips two or more consecutive ranking numbers.
What happens if there is a tie?
Ties are broken by drawing lots (e.g. flip a coin, draw straws, etc.) in Utah. If two candidates tie, the election administrator will invite the candidates to agree on a tie-breaking method (lots, coin toss, rock/paper/scissors, etc.). The winner of that method is declared the winner.
Will it take longer to see results?
Results may look different from day to day. RCV eliminates candidates in rounds, so it’s possible that one candidate may appear to lead early on, but as others are eliminated, their voters’ next-choice rankings will shift the final outcome
If a recount is needed, results may be delayed up to seven days. (per §20A-6-602(12).
What will my ballot look like?
Ballots will be managed by the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Office and a sample ballot will be shared with the public once available.
Will it still be a by-mail election?
Yes. The State of Utah is an entirely vote by mail state. However, cities and counties may provide in-person polling locations, these will be determined by Salt Lake County and will be posted on their website and on the City Recorder’s website closer to the General Election, November 4, 2025.
How does this change the election timeline?
The timeline has a few changes; however, the General Election will still take place on November 4, 2025. The municipal race does not have a primary election, so the Declaration of Candidacy period has been moved from early June to August 12-19, 2025.
Does the time period change effect candidates?
Yes and no. Candidates can begin campaigning now and continue campaigning up to the General Election. However, they are not official candidates with confirmed validity until after August 19.
The formal period for declaring candidacy is August 12-19 at 5:00pm. So, while the declaration period moves from June to August, it does not prohibit them from beginning to campaign. However, it is necessary for candidates to open a Personal Campaign Committee with the City Recorder’s Office which requires candidates to report how they are raising and spending funds.
Do other cities or states do this?
Yes. In 2021, 23 cities in Utah used Ranked Choice Voting, including Salt Lake City; and in 2023, 12 cities, including Salt Lake City, used it.
The following Cities have indicated they will be using Ranked Choice Voting in 2025:
- Midvale
- South Salt Lake
- Millcreek
- Sat Lake City
Resource: https://vote.utah.gov/current-election-information/
Have more questions about Ranked Choice Voting? Great! Send them to elections@slcgov.com and the most commonly asked ones will be added to this FAQ.