Rank Your Endorsements

A guide to maximizing the power of your organization’s endorsements in ranked-choice races.

What is a ranked endorsement?

Typically, an organization (or a person) that endorses candidates recommends its favorite candidate in accordance with its rules for endorsement. Ranked Choice Voting provides exciting opportunities to maximize your power and influence more candidates to support your platform.

Under Ranked Choice Voting, an organization has the option to rank a slate of candidates in order of preference. As an organization, you indicate your favorite, or first-choice, candidate in accordance with your screening criteria and a second and additional (backup) choices if you wish. Second and lower choices only count if/when your first choice is eliminated.

Why is it beneficial to rank endorse rather than endorse a single candidate? 

Under RCV, voters have the option to rank candidates in order of preference. In turn, organizations have the opportunity to provide voters their preferred ranked slate of candidates. In doing so, you’re letting your members and supporters know how you prefer they fill out their ranked ballot. In the event your first-choice candidate is eliminated, your set of rankings informs voters who to mark as their second choice, increasing the chances that your second preference will be elected. If your second preference is eliminated, your third choice preference will count, and so forth. In sum, it gives you the opportunity to influence how your supporters or members will vote.  

Are all endorsements created equal?

No. Your number one choice is the most important endorsement and only this candidate has the right to claim your organization’s first-choice endorsement. The second or third choice candidates must not claim your endorsement without indicating their ranking. This would be false advertisement of support. 

Organizations providing ranked endorsements should require candidates to pledge to a code of conduct, for example:  

ENDORSEMENTS:

I pledge to report endorsements of my campaign accurately. My campaign communications will only list endorsements from organizations and individuals that have formally agreed to endorse my campaign. When my endorsements come with a particular ranking, I will indicate that specific level of support in any of my communications about my endorsements.

Example: If endorsed by former Mayor John Doe as his 3rd choice, I will list his endorsement as "John Doe (#3 choice)". If endorsed by John Doe as his 1st choice, I will list his endorsement as “John Doe (#1 choice)”.

RANKED CHOICE VOTING:

I pledge that my campaign will not ask voters to give me more than one ranking or to rank only me on the ballot. I recognize that such strategies do not increase my chances of winning.

How do organizations support their ranked candidates?

As you would under the traditional system of endorsing a single candidate, you would typically provide financial and organizational support to only your first-choice candidate to maximize the chances that your preferred candidate wins. 

We look forward to robust, competitive, and civil campaigns across the various races in Minneapolis and St. Paul this year and applaud the organizations engaging and supporting candidates in the important work of making the Twin Cities a better place for all its citizens.