Bill > H869

This bill establishes ranked choice voting (RCV) for town elections in Acton, Massachusetts, which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference instead of choosing just one. Under the new system, for single-seat elections, if no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their voters' ballots are redistributed to their next-ranked candidate. This process continues until one candidate has a majority. For multi-seat elections, a similar process occurs, with an additional complexity of calculating an "election threshold" and redistributing surplus votes from candidates who exceed that threshold. The bill provides detailed rules for handling tie situations and allows the Select Board and Town Clerk to make minimal necessary adjustments to ensure election integrity. While the bill will take effect immediately upon passage, the first RCV election will not occur before 2025, giving the town time to prepare for the new voting method. The bill applies to annual town elections and special elections, with exceptions for races with two or fewer candidates.

Government Affairs

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H869