Ranked Ballot Counter
Create candidates and anonymous preference rankings, then count the same ballots using instant runoff (IRV) or Borda points. IRV shows a separate round with active/exhausted ballots, assignments and transfers; Borda shows points and support at each rank. The tie policies and truncated-ballot behavior below are this tool's declared choices, not universal election rules. This is for learning and group decisions, not official election certification.
Key features
- Editable candidate list and anonymous ballots with one or more ordered preferences
- IRV round totals, active-ballot majority, exhaustion and ballot-level transfers
- Borda N-to-1 points for ranked candidates and zero for unranked candidates
- Documented deterministic IRV elimination and Borda score-tie policies
- Strict editable JSON project, detailed audit JSON and formula-safe CSV count report
How to use
- Load the club-choice example or start a blank project, then set its title and candidate names.
- Enter each anonymous ballot from first preference downward. Leave only trailing ranks blank; each candidate can appear once.
- Select IRV or Borda and run the count. Review the winner, round or score table, and tie explanation.
- For IRV, open a round's audit details to see each ballot's current choice and transfers after elimination.
- Download editable project JSON before leaving. Download audit JSON or CSV for a reproducible count report.
Use cases
- Explain how a club event choice changes after a low-ranked option is eliminated
- Compare IRV and Borda outcomes on the same anonymous group preferences
- Show which ballots became exhausted because no continuing choice remained
- Keep a transparent, reproducible record of a classroom or workshop vote
Frequently asked questions
What happens when a ballot ranks only some candidates?
In IRV it follows the next ranked candidate still in the count; if none remains, it is exhausted and excluded from that round's majority denominator. In Borda, listed ranks get N, N−1 and so on by position while every unranked candidate gets zero. Those are this tool's explicit policies.
How is an IRV elimination tie settled?
Among candidates tied for the fewest votes now, the tool compares their totals in earlier rounds, newest round first, eliminating whoever had the fewest in the first round that separates them. If every earlier comparison is tied, the lexicographically greatest stable candidate ID is eliminated. The round displays these comparisons.
How is a Borda point tie settled?
Equal point totals are compared by first-place support, then second-place support, and so on. If every rank count matches, the lexicographically smallest stable candidate ID ranks first. This is a deterministic reporting policy, not a claim that all Borda elections use it.
Why can IRV and Borda choose different winners?
IRV repeatedly transfers each ballot's vote to its highest continuing choice, while Borda sums points for every listed rank. They measure preferences differently. Try the same ballots under both methods and compare the round or score evidence.
Can this certify an official election?
No. Jurisdictions have different ballot-validity, skipped-rank, write-in, recount, and tie procedures. This browser-local teaching and group-decision tool implements only the stated policies and has no voter authentication, tamper-resistant chain of custody, or election certification.
Where are ballots stored?
They remain in this browser tab and are not sent to the server. There is no automatic save or multi-user sync. Download the version 1 project JSON to resume; audit JSON and CSV are reports, not import formats. Invalid imports leave the current project intact.
Privacy
Candidate names and anonymous ballot order stay in this browser tab, with no automatic save or server API upload. Exported project and reports can reveal group preferences; handle them appropriately.
Comments & questions