Bill > H576

This bill establishes the "Instant Runoff Voting" (IRV) method for primary elections and caucuses in Massachusetts for specific statewide and legislative offices when three or more candidates are running. IRV is a voting system where voters rank candidates in order of preference, and if no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes, the last-place candidate is eliminated, and votes are redistributed to the next preferred candidate on those ballots. This process continues in rounds until one candidate secures a majority, ensuring that the winner has broad support. The bill mandates that ballots will allow voters to mark their first choice similarly to traditional voting, but also to rank additional candidates, and requires sample ballots, voter education, and updated voting equipment to implement this new system.