Each row is a separate illustrative ballot. A means a valid ranking for candidate A, who remains in contention. A dash means blank; all unshown rankings are also blank.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | During tabulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | A | — | Counts for AOne skipped ranking does not block the valid second choice. |
| — | — | A | Counts for no candidateTwo consecutive skipped rankings before A exhaust the ballot. |
| — | — | — | Counts for no candidateThe entirely unmarked contest has no preference to count. |
All three enter the ballot total used for the initial majority test. Their treatment during ranked-choice tabulation differs.
Rule basis: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 21-A, §723-A. Schematic examples, not actual ballots or estimates of their frequency.