Bill > H0313

This bill establishes a temporary Ranked-Choice Voting Study Committee to examine the implementation of ranked-choice voting for state and federal elections in Vermont. The committee will be composed of 9 members representing various government bodies and election-focused organizations, including legislators, municipal clerks, and election experts. The committee's primary goal is to study and develop recommendations for implementing ranked-choice voting across all primary and general elections by 2028, with specific focus areas including voter education, election staff training, election integrity, technological requirements, vote tabulation, and post-election processes. Additionally, the bill mandates the use of ranked-choice voting for U.S. presidential primary elections, allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference. The method for allocating delegates will be determined by each major political party, either on a winner-take-all or proportional basis. The bill requires the Secretary of State to develop rules for implementing ranked-choice voting, including procedures for vote tabulation, equipment compatibility, and result reporting. The study committee will submit a report with its findings and recommendations by January 15, 2026, and will cease to exist on November 1, 2026. Members will receive per diem compensation for up to four meetings, with a modest appropriation of $1,000 allocated to support the committee's work.