Instant Runoff Voting (Ranked Choice Voting) Legislation: Majority rule and meaningful voter choice are marks of a functioning democracy. To facilitate a full range of choices in high-turnout elections that honor the will of the majority, we act to encourage understanding, adoption and effective implementation of instant runoff voting, a ranked choice voting system used in a growing number of American elections.

Hawaii:
Law Number:  HI H 638 Elections  
2012 Status: Died.
Date of Last Action: 04/26/11
Author: Belatti (D) Additional Authors: Morita (D);Luke (D);Cabanilla (D);Carroll (D)
Associated Bills:HI S 667 - Companion
Summary:Provides for instant runoff voting for all elections in which no primary election is held, authorizes the chief election officer or the county clerk to use the instant runoff voting method in special elections that would normally require a separate runoff election if no candidate received a majority of votes.

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Law Number: HI S 667 Elections
Status: Died.
Date of Last Action: 01/21/11
Author: Ihara (D) Additional Authors: Espero (D);Shimabukuro (D);Baker (D);Galuteria (D);Kidani (D);Ryan (D)
Summary:Provides for instant runoff voting for all elections in which no primary election is held, authorizes the chief election officer or the county clerk to use the instant runoff voting method in special elections that would normally require a separate runoff election if no candidate received a majority of votes.

Massachusetts:
   
Law Number:  MA H 198 Voting By the Instant Runoff Voting Method in Primaries  
2012 Status: Pending - Joint Committee on Election Laws
Date of Last Action: 03/21/12
Author: Kaufman (D)
Summary: Relates to voting by the instant runoff voting method in primaries.

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Law Number:  MA H 199 Voting By the Instant Runoff Voting Method  
2012 Status: Pending - Joint Committee on Election Laws
Date of Last Action: 03/21/12
Author: Kaufman (D)
Summary:Relates to voting by the instant runoff voting method.

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Law Number:  MA H 214 Instant Runoff Voting  
2012 Status: Pending - Joint Committee on Election Laws
Date of Last Action: 03/21/12
Author: Wolf (D)
Summary:Directs the Secretary of the Commonwealth to promulgate regulations for the implementation of an "instant runoff voting" method of preference for candidates for Representative to the United States Congress.

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Law Number:  MA H 1983 Instant Runoff Voting Method  
2012 Status: Pending - Joint Committee on Election Laws
Date of Last Action: 03/21/12
Author: Story (D)
Summary:Relates to voting by the instant runoff voting method.

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Law Number: MA H 1984 Instant Runoff Voting Method  
2012 Status: Pending - Joint Committee on Election Laws
Date of Last Action: 03/21/12
Author: Story (D)
Summary:Relates to voting by the instant runoff voting method in primary elections.

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Law Number:   MA H 2742 Instant Runoff Voting in Municipal Elections  
2012 Status: Pending - Joint Committee on Election Laws
Date of Last Action: 03/21/12
Author: Sciortino (D)
Summary:Relates to cities or towns with a local option to use instant runoff voting in municipal elections.

Maine:

Law Number:  ME H 838 Ranked Choice Voting Method  
2012 Status: Failed in Joint Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs
Date of Last Action: 06/09/11
Author: Russell (D)
Summary: Creates the ranked choice voting method to determine winners in elections for Governor and allows a voter to rank candidates according to that voter's preference. This provides that each voter has only one vote and the ballot count is the same as would occur if voters participated in a series of run-off elections, with the candidate with the fewest votes eliminated after each round of counting.

Minnesota:
  
Law Number: MN S 1446 Ranked Choice Voting Method
2012 Status: Pending - Died.
Date of Last Action: 05/19/11
Author: Rest (DFL)
Topics: Instant Run-off
Summary: Relates to elections, authorizes jurisdictions to adopt ranked-choice voting, establishes procedures for adoption, implementation, and use of ranked-choice voting.

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Law Number: MN H 1737 Ranked Choice Voting Method
Status: Died.
Date of Last Action: 05/20/11
Author: Kelly (R)
Topics: Instant Run-off
Summary: Relates to elections, authorizes jurisdictions to adopt ranked-choice voting, establishes procedures for adoption, implementation, and use of ranked-choice voting.

New York:

Law Number:  A00582: Enacts the NYC instant run-off voting act 
2012 Status: Pending - Election Law Committee
Date of Last Action: 01/04/12
Sponsor: Lancman (D)
Summary: Enacts the "NYC instant run-off voting act"; requires an instant run-off in any municipal election in New York City; provides that if one candidate for any municipal office receives a majority of first preferences, such candidate is elected; provided, however, if no candidate is the first choice of at least half the voters, the instant runoff re-tabulation shall be performed and then the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated; makes related changes.

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Law Number: A06398: Establishes an instant runoff voting method for certain local elections; provides for repeal of such provisions  
2012 Status: Pending - Election Law Committee
Date of Last Action: 01/12/12
Sponsor: Kaufman (D)
Summary: Establishes an instant runoff voting method for certain local elections for races with three or more candidates; insures majority support for elected officers; provides for repeal of such provisions.

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Law Number:  A07009 (Same as S 422): Creates a pilot program to provide for an instant runoff voting method   
2012 Status: Pending - Election Law Committee
Date of Last Action: 01/18/12
Author: Thiele (I)
Summary: Creates a pilot program to provide for an instant runoff voting method to be used in up to ten local governments, selected by the state board of elections, in election years 2014 and 2015; requires report to state legislature.

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Law Number:  S00421 (Same as A 6398): Establishes an instant runoff voting method for certain local elections
2012 Status: Pending - Senate Elections Committee
Date of Last Action: 01/04/11
Sponsor: Krueger (D)
Summary: Establishes an instant runoff voting method for certain local elections for races with three or more candidates; insures majority support for elected officers; provides for repeal of such provisions.

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Law Number:  S00422 (Same as A 7009): Creates a pilot program to provide for an instant runoff voting method  
2012 Status: Pending - Senate Elections Committee
Date of Last Action: 02/21/11
Sponsor: Krueger (D)
Summary: Creates a pilot program to provide for an instant runoff voting method to be used in up to ten local governments, selected by the state board of elections, in election years 2014 and 2015; requires report to state legislature.

North Carolina:    [OPPOSE]

Law Number: NC H 452 Runoff Voting and Judicial Offices 
2012 Status: Died.
Date of Last Action: 06/03/11
Author: Starnes (R)
Summary: Eliminates "instant runoff" voting for judicial offices when late vacancies occur and instead determine the results of the vacancy election by plurality, repeals public campaign financing for council of state races, restores judicial elections to a partisan basis.

Rhode Island:   

Law Number: RI H 6176 Runoff Voting and Judicial Offices   
2012 Status: Enacted July 13, 2011- Public Law No. 2011-386
Date of Last Action: 07/13/11
Author: Blazejewski (D)
Summary: Establishes a study commission for the purpose of studying instant runoff voting and other advanced voting methods.

Last updated 06/11/12