Use Google Forms to collect preferences, then calculate a 3–2–1 points ranking here. Forms collects the responses; ranking.fyi counts your selected choice columns on your device. This workflow does not calculate instant-runoff voting.
1. Agree on the shortlist and rule
Prepare a manageable list of eligible choices with distinct names. Tell participants that their first choice earns 3 points, second 2 and third 1. Decide whether everyone must provide three choices or may submit a shorter ballot, and how you will handle repeat submissions.
2. Create three choice questions
Add three dropdown questions named First choice, Second choice and Third choice, using the same candidate names in each. Make First choice required. Leave the other two optional if short ballots are allowed. In the instructions, tell respondents to choose different entries and to complete Second choice before Third choice.
Separate questions do not prevent someone choosing the same entry twice. The calculator rejects those rows so you can ask for a correction. If you need the form to prevent repeated choices, a multiple-choice grid with the three positions as rows, candidates as columns, and “Limit to one response per column” can help. Requiring a response in each row makes that a full three-choice ballot.
See Google's question-type documentation for the grid controls. Do not describe a three-position form as collecting a full ranking of every candidate.
3. Export the responses
In the form, open Responses and use the menu to download responses as CSV, or open the linked response spreadsheet and download its current sheet as CSV. Google's response-storage guide covers the export options. Keep a copy of the original export so you can audit later changes.
4. Select the correct columns
Open the calculator and choose your CSV. Select First choice, Second choice and Third choice from the column selectors. Leave timestamps and unrelated questions unselected. The example below represents the shape of a three-question export; it is a synthetic fixture, not a real participant dataset.
Timestamp,First choice,Second choice,Third choice
2026-09-22 10:00:00,Cedar,Maple,Oak
2026-09-22 10:01:00,Maple,Cedar,Oak
2026-09-22 10:02:00,Cedar,Oak,Maple
2026-09-22 10:03:00,Oak,Cedar,
2026-09-22 10:04:00,Cedar,,Download the synthetic export. Select columns 2, 3 and 4. The expected points are Cedar 13, Oak 7 and Maple 6.
5. Review before announcing
Correct repeated picks and gaps in the source file before counting. Treat identical complete rows as separate ballots unless your source evidence identifies a duplicate submission. If a name differs only in case or whitespace, the calculator combines it; artist or author identifiers should remain part of the name.
Inspect the counted ballots, confirm the ballot count and export the result with its scoring rule. Your form and its responses remain subject to Google's storage and sharing settings. Files selected in the ranking.fyi calculator are processed locally and are not uploaded.