Use this workbook to inspect the arithmetic behind a top-three ranking. It includes editable sample ballots, candidate totals, ballot checks and a guide to the formulas. The five sample ballots match the online calculator exactly.
Open it in Excel or Google Sheets
Open the XLSX in Excel, or import it into Google Sheets. The Ballots sheet has first, second and third columns, with one response per row. Replace the sample ballots with your own and list each distinct candidate on the Results sheet. The workbook supports up to 1,000 ballot rows and 100 candidates.
Check the instructions and validation column before using the totals. Empty rows are unused; rows with a missing first choice, repeated selection or gap are marked invalid. Candidates missing from the Results list must be added. Entries should use consistent names without leading or trailing spaces.
The 3–2–1 formula
Count how often an entry appears in each position, multiply by the points for that position, then add the results. In this workbook the first ballot is on row 2 and the last supported ballot row is 1001. Candidate names start in Results cell A2.
=3*COUNTIF(Ballots!$A$2:$A$1001,A2)
+2*COUNTIF(Ballots!$B$2:$B$1001,A2)
+COUNTIF(Ballots!$C$2:$C$1001,A2)The workbook escapes spreadsheet wildcard characters in candidate criteria and suppresses results while its input checks report an error. The formula above is the simple version for names without wildcards. The actual cells remain inspectable.
Check against a known result
Five illustrative ballots give Cedar 13 points, Oak 7 and Maple 6. Cedar appears first three times and second twice: (3 × 3) + (2 × 2) = 13. The last two ballots are intentionally shorter.
first,second,third
Cedar,Maple,Oak
Maple,Cedar,Oak
Cedar,Oak,Maple
Oak,Cedar,
Cedar,,With equal favorites, the same ballots give Cedar 5, Oak 4 and Maple 3 points. Download these sample ballots.
First-choice points total 15, second-choice points total 8, and third-choice points total 3. Together they produce 26 points. Cedar has rank 1, Oak rank 2, and Maple rank 3. Zero-point candidates have no rank; equal point totals receive the same rank.
Switch to equal favorites deliberately
In equal-favorite counting, each selected entry earns one point regardless of position. The workbook shows the number of picks separately, so you can compare that outcome with ranked points. Agree on the rule before collecting responses, rather than choosing whichever result you prefer afterward.
Bring the same ballots into the calculator
Export only the first, second and third columns as CSV, or export the whole Ballots sheet and use the calculator's column selectors to ignore validation columns. Short ballots must have only trailing blanks. Leave unused spreadsheet rows out of the CSV: blank records within a file are reported for review.
The workbook is a counting aid, not a voter-verification system. Check repeat submissions against your original source and preserve that source. If you prefer interactive validation and a ballot audit, use the calculator.