Bill > SB01536

This bill introduces ranked-choice voting (RCV) as an optional voting method for political parties and municipalities in Connecticut, effective January 1, 2027. Under RCV, voters can rank candidates in order of preference instead of selecting just one candidate. In elections where only one candidate will be chosen (like for governor or mayor), if no candidate receives a majority in the first round, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to voters' next-ranked candidates. This process continues until one candidate receives a majority. The bill allows political parties to use RCV in primaries, caucuses, and conventions, and municipalities can adopt RCV for local elections through their charters or ordinances. For presidential preference primaries, parties can choose to implement RCV starting in 2028. The legislation provides detailed rules for ballot design, vote tabulation, and delegate allocation, and requires the Secretary of the State to develop regulations and instructions for implementing ranked-choice voting. The bill aims to provide more flexibility for political parties and potentially give voters more nuanced choices in elections by allowing them to express preferences beyond a single candidate.