Bill > S3425

This bill, titled the "Ranked Choice Voting Act," mandates that all federal elections for Senators and Representatives in Congress, including primaries and special elections, must use ranked choice voting (RCV). RCV allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, and ballots are tabulated in rounds where the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the next ranked candidate until one candidate secures a majority. The bill specifies that ballots must allow voters to rank at least five candidates or the total number of candidates, whichever is fewer, and prohibits separate runoff elections after the initial primary or general election. It also allows for nonpartisan blanket primaries under certain conditions and provides federal funding to states to help implement RCV, with payments based on the number of registered voters and ranging from $4 to $8 per capita. The Act establishes civil enforcement mechanisms, including actions by the Attorney General and private lawsuits, and clarifies that it does not affect state or local elections. The provisions of this bill will take effect for federal elections held on or after January 1, 2030.

Government Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3425/all-info