What Is the Oscar Ballot
The Oscar ballot is the official voting system used by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to select winners across all categories. Members receive ballots listing eligible films, performances, and crafts, then rank or choose their preferred nominees and final winners according to specific rules for each category.
How Voting and Ballot Types Work
For Best Picture, the Academy uses a ranked-choice ballot where voters number their preferences. If no film secures a majority of first-choice votes, the lowest-ranked film is eliminated and its votes are redistributed based on next preferences until a winner emerges. Most other categories use a simpler plurality vote, where the candidate or film with the most votes wins.
Who Votes and How Ballots Are Counted
Active and life members of the Academy receive ballots, with eligibility rules that can vary by branch and year. Ballots are typically submitted online or by mail during a defined voting window. The counting is handled by independent accounting firms to ensure accuracy and confidentiality, and results are announced during the Oscar ceremony. More details on the process are available at https://www.oscars.org/academy/ballot.
