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Overview
The Salt Lake City Council passed Resolution 5 of 2023, 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 2023 Municipal General Election, November 21, 2023. Salt Lake City participated in Ranked Choice Voting for the 2021 Municipal General Election.
A ranked-choice voting system is an electoral system in which voters rank candidates by preference on their ballots. If a candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, they are declared the winner. If no candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated. First-preference votes cast for the failed candidate are eliminated, lifting the second-preference choices indicated on those ballots. A new tally is conducted to determine whether any candidate has won a majority of the adjusted votes. The process is repeated until a candidate wins an outright majority. Watch the video to learn more!
Quick Points about RCV in Salt Lake City
- Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to select candidates in preferential order
- In Salt Lake City, voters will be able to rank up to 10 candidates
- For example – if there are 10 candidates there are 10 preference rankings; if there are 5 candidates, only 5 preference rankings will be listed
- Date Changes:
- There will be no primary race for the Municipal Election
- Declaration of Candidacy period will be open between August 8-15. (This is when candidates formally declare their intent to run for office, this action could officially place the candidates name on the ballot)
- General Election (Election Day) is on November 21, 2023
- Individuals interested in being placed on the ballot, may begin campaigning at any point of an election cycle so long as they open a Personal Campaign Committee with the Recorder’s office for the purposes of raising or spending funds
- Municipal Election information for Salt Lake City can be found here.
2023 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 2023 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 8, 2023, to August 15, 2023 | 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 5, 2023 | CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY ELECTION | The second Tuesday following the first Monday in August. | 20A-1-201.5(2) |
| October 7, 2023 | UOCAVA ballots sent | Not later than 45 days before the election (falls on a weekend and moved to the previous business day). ***In addition, with the 24th being a holiday, the LGO is requesting this to be completed by Thursday, July, 20.*** | 20A-16-403(1) |
| October 31, 2023 | First day to send mail/absentee ballots to active registered voters. | No sooner than 21 days before election day. | 20A-3a-202(2)(a) |
| November 7, 2023 | In-person early voting period begins. | 14 days before election day. | 20A-3a-601(2)(a) |
| November 13, 2023 | 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 |
| November 14, 2023 | 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 21, 2023 | GENERAL ELECTION | ||
| December 6, 2023 | General Election Board of Canvassers deadline | No later than 14 days after the election. | 20A-4-301(1)(b) |