UN: The First Trends in the Color-Ballot Vote

The UN Security Council held its sixth straw poll on October 16, 2026, as part of the process to choose António Guterres’s successor as secretary-general. The five permanent members—the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia and the United States—used red ballots, while the ten elected members used white ballots. Unconfirmed partial results gave Rebeca Grynspan 9 “encourage” and 5 “discourage” votes; Rafael Grossi and Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett reportedly each received 8 “encourage” and 6 “discourage” votes, including two negative votes from permanent members in each case. The figures account for only 14 of the Council’s 15 members, and the straw poll is not a final election.