OSCAR VOTING

Voting procedure
Instead of voting for one film, members rank best picture nominees If no film wins more than 50 percent of first-choice votes, film with lowest number of first-choice votes is eliminated On ballots with removed film, second choice now counted as first choice

2013 ACADEMY AWARDS

Procedures the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences follows to determine the years best picture:

If a film still does not have 51 percent, process is repeated

Voting method may mean a film wins best picture without getting the most first-place votes

Counting the votes: Second place could win

Example of how that is possible; nine ballots ranking top three films:
1 Lincoln 2 Argo 3 Les Miserables 1 Lincoln 2 Argo 3 Les Miserables 1 Lincoln 2 Argo 3 Les Miserables 1 Lincoln 2 Les Miserables 3 Argo

After first count

Lincoln Argo Les Miserables 4 3 2

After second count

Lincoln Argo

4 5

Argo has more than 51 percent; wins best picture

Organized by first-ranked film; no film has 51 percent to win

1 Argo 2 Les Miserables 3 Lincoln 1 Argo 2 Lincoln 3 Les Miserables 1 Argo 2 Lincoln 3 Les Miserables 1 Les Miserables 1 Argo 2 Lincoln 1 Les Miserables 1 Argo 2 Lincoln

2013 MCT Source: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Les Miserables taken out since it has fewest votes Second-ranked film becomes first