How Oscar votes are counted

Infographic: How Oscar votes are counted

Preferential voting can produce a winner that may not receive the highest number of first-place votes.

By Javier Zarracina

and Len De Groot

Feb. 17, 2015 3:15 PM PT

Preferential voting can produce an Oscar winner that may not receive the highest number of first-place votes.

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1. Eight films are up for best picture this year.

2. A voter ranks the eight films in order of preference and submits the ballot.

3. The No. 1 picks from all voters are tabulated. A film needs more than half the votes to win.

4. If there is no winner, the nominee with the fewest votes is thrown out. Those ballots are then given to the remaining nominees according to the voters' No. 2 choice.

5. The process repeats, eliminating nominees and giving votes to the next highest-ranked film on each ballot.

When a film obtains more than 50% of the votes, the winner is decided.

Oscars 2015: Why the film with the most first place votes might not win best picture

Source: Times reporting

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Javier Zarracina

Javier Zarracina no longer works for the Los Angeles Times. Previously, he was the graphics and data editor.

Len De Groot

As assistant managing editor, Len De Groot oversaw the Data and Graphics department and the editorial development of content management systems from August 2018 to July 2020. He joined the organization in 2013 as the director of Data and Visualization, where he led a transformation of the graphics department into an award-winning, digital-first team. De Groot has been an industry leader in creating and promoting innovative visual journalism.