how to do a google form for rank voting

Neter

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23-11-2024

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Ranked-choice voting (RCV) lets voters rank candidates in order of preference. This avoids the problem of a less-popular candidate winning with only a plurality of votes. This guide shows you how to create a Google Form to easily collect ranked-choice votes. We'll cover the setup process step-by-step, ensuring your RCV election runs smoothly.

Understanding Ranked-Choice Voting

Before diving into the Google Form creation, let's quickly recap how ranked-choice voting works. Voters rank candidates from their most preferred to their least preferred. If a candidate receives a majority of first-place votes, they win outright. However, if no candidate wins a majority, the candidate with the fewest first-place votes is eliminated. Their votes are then redistributed to the voters' next-highest ranked candidate. This process continues until a candidate secures a majority.

Setting Up Your Google Form for Ranked-Choice Voting

This method uses multiple-choice questions for each round of ranking. This is simpler than attempting to use a single, complex question.

Step 1: Create a New Google Form

• Go to forms.google.com and click the "+ Create a new form" button.

Step 2: Give Your Form a Title and Description

• Give your form a clear title, like "Ranked-Choice Voting Election."
• Add a brief description explaining the voting process and how to rank candidates.

Step 3: Add Candidate Questions

For each round of voting (as many rounds as you anticipate based on the number of candidates), create a multiple-choice question. The number of rounds will vary based on the number of candidates. For example, with three candidates, you might have up to three rounds. Here's how to structure them:

• Round 1: First Choice: Create a multiple-choice question titled "Round 1: First Choice". List each candidate as an option.
• Round 2: Second Choice (If Necessary): Add another multiple-choice question labeled "Round 2: Second Choice (Only complete if your first choice is eliminated)." This question should only appear if a candidate is eliminated. We'll address conditional logic in a later step.
• Round 3: Third Choice (If Necessary): Repeat for a third round as needed.

Step 4: Add Candidate Names

• Ensure each candidate's name is clearly and consistently listed in every question. Accuracy is key here.

Step 5: (Optional) Add Additional Information Questions

• Consider adding optional questions for demographic data (age range, etc.). Remember to clearly state these are optional and anonymized (if so).

Step 6: Implementing Conditional Logic (For Rounds 2 and 3)

• This is crucial for streamlining the voting process. Google Forms allows you to show or hide sections based on previous answers.
  • Open Section: Select the question for round 2. Click the three vertical dots next to it. Then choose “Go to section based on answer.” Choose the next round based on which candidate was chosen.
  • Repeat: Repeat this for round 3 or further rounds based on your scenario.

Step 7: Review and Publish

• Thoroughly review your form to ensure everything is clear and accurate. Check for typos and logical errors.
• Once you're satisfied, click "Send" and choose how you want to distribute your form (link, email, etc.).

Tallying the Results

Unfortunately, Google Forms doesn't automatically tally ranked-choice votes. You'll need to download the responses as a spreadsheet (CSV or XLSX). Then, use a spreadsheet program (like Google Sheets or Excel) and a formula to manually count and redistribute votes. There are online tools and resources available to help with this process, and search for "ranked choice voting tally spreadsheet" to find examples.

Tips for a Smooth Election

• Clear Instructions: Provide clear, easy-to-understand instructions on how to fill out the form.
• Testing: Test your form thoroughly before sending it out to ensure it works as intended. Have a few people test it and provide feedback.
• Communication: Keep voters informed of the election's progress and the results.
• Transparency: Make the tallying process transparent and explain how the results were calculated.

By following these steps, you can effectively use a Google Form for a ranked-choice voting election, simplifying the process and increasing voter participation. Remember to thoroughly test the form and clearly communicate instructions to voters to ensure a fair and efficient election.