MA H635

Bill

Providing a local option for ranked choice voting in municipal elections

Introduced
01/22/2019

In Committee
01/22/2019

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

191st General Court

Bill Summary

Relative to providing a local option for ranked choice voting in municipal elections. Election Laws.

AI Summary

This bill provides a local option for municipalities in Massachusetts to implement ranked choice voting for their municipal elections. It amends existing election laws to allow cities and towns to adopt ranked choice voting, which enables voters to rank candidates in order of preference. The bill outlines the general provisions for conducting ranked choice voting elections, including methods for calculating winning thresholds, transferring votes, and resolving ties. Municipalities that adopt this system must also conduct voter education and outreach campaigns. After at least four years, a city or town can choose to return to its prior voting method through a ballot measure, ordinance, or charter amendment.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (50)

Ruth Balser (D), Christine Barber (D), John Barrett (D), Jennifer Benson (D), Natalie Blais (D), Dan Carey (D), Sonia Chang-Díaz (D), Michelle Ciccolo (D), Mike Connolly (D), Edward Coppinger (D), Mike Day (D), Marjorie Decker (D), Diana Dizoglio (D), Mindy Domb (D), Dan Donahue (D), Michelle DuBois (D), Lori Ehrlich (D), Jamie Eldridge (D), Nika Elugardo (D), Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D), Sean Garballey (D), Denise Garlick (D), Carmine Gentile (D), Ken Gordon (D), Tami Gouveia (D), Jim Hawkins (D), Stephen Hay (D), Jonathan Hecht (D), Natalie Higgins (D), Kate Hogan (D), Pat Jehlen (D), Kay Khan (D), John Lawn (D), David LeBoeuf (D), Jack Lewis (D), Jay Livingstone (D), Adrian Madaro (D), Paul Mark (D), Paul McMurtry (D), Brian Murray (D), Tram Nguyen (D), Sarah Peake (D), Smitty Pignatelli (D), Denise Provost (D), Dave Rogers (D), Lindsay Sabadosa (D), Jon Santiago (D), Tom Stanley (D), Steve Ultrino (D), John Velis (D),

Last Action

Reporting date extended to Thursday December 31, 2020, pending concurrence (on 06/29/2020)

Official Document

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H635

(11 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H635
Bill	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H635.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H3859	Authorizing the City of Boston to offer early voting in municipal elections	Accompanied a study order, see H4403	Similar To
H3889	Enabling a local option for a tax on vacant units in large residential buildings	Accompanied a study order, see H5031	Similar To
H643	Authorizing the city of Cambridge to offer early voting in municipal elections	Accompanied a study order, see H4403	Similar To
H707	Enabling cities and towns to extend voting rights in municipal elections to certain noncitizens of the Commonwealth	Accompanied a study order, see H4403	Similar To
H719	Relative to ranked choice voting	Reporting date extended to Thursday December 31, 2020, pending concurrence	Similar To
S1524	To authorize a local option for group retirement classification	Accompanied a study order, see S2545	Similar To
S1667	Establishing a local option gasoline and diesel fuel excise	Accompanied a study order, see S2795	Similar To
S2291	Granting noncitizen permanent residents in the town of Warwick the right to vote in municipal elections	Accompanied a study order, see S2544	Similar To
S382	Relative to early voting in municipal elections	Accompanied a study order, see S2544	Similar To
S389	Ensuring municipal participation of the widest eligible range	Reporting date extended to Thursday December 31, 2020, pending concurrence	Similar To
S420	Providing a local option for ranked choice voting in municipal elections	Accompanied a study order, see S2544	Similar To

Bill > H635

MA H635

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Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (50)

Last Action

Official Document

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