Bill > H608

This bill amends election laws to implement Instant Runoff Voting (IRV), a system where voters rank candidates in order of preference, and votes are recounted in rounds if no candidate initially wins a majority. The purpose of IRV, as defined in the bill, is to ensure a majority of votes for certain statewide offices including governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of the commonwealth, state treasurer, and state auditor, when three or more candidates are running. The process involves counting first-choice votes, then eliminating the last-place candidate and reallocating their votes based on voters' next preferences, continuing this until one candidate secures a majority. The bill also outlines how ballots will be designed to allow for ranked choices, mandates sample ballots and voter instructions, and requires the secretary of the commonwealth to develop regulations, ensure voting equipment compatibility, and conduct voter education for IRV.