Bill Text: MO HB1897 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Allows political subdivisions to conduct ranked-choice voting in certain elections
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-14 - Referred: Elections (H) [HB1897 Detail]
Download: Missouri-2010-HB1897-Introduced.html
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES ZIMMERMAN (Sponsor), ROORDA, ATKINS, GRILL, LeVOTA, SCHUPP, OXFORD, SCHIEFFER, TALBOY AND LOW (Co-sponsors).
4532L.02I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 115, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to ranked-choice voting.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 115, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 115.438, to read as follows:
115.438. 1. Any political subdivision may conduct ranked-choice voting for either single-winner elections or for elections that elect multiple candidates to office. The adoption of general provisions for ranked-choice voting shall be specified by order, ordinance, or charter amendment in accordance with general state law governing the political subdivisions. In the event that the charter of any home rule city prohibits the adoption of election procedures by order or ordinance, then such home rule city shall adopt a charter amendment to implement the ranked-choice voting requirements in this section.
2. The order, ordinance, or charter amendment shall specify the method of calculating winning thresholds, how candidates with the fewest vote totals are eliminated, how votes for eliminated candidates are transferred to the voter's next valid choice, how ties shall be resolved, and how ballots shall be counted. In the case of elections for multiple candidates, the procedure for transferring surplus votes to alternate candidates shall be specified. Ranked-choice voting ballots shall allow voters to rank as many choices as there are candidates. In the event that the voting equipment cannot feasibly accommodate a number of rankings on the ballot equal to the number of candidates, the number of choices appearing on the ballot may be limited by the local election authority to the maximum number allowed by the equipment if such discretion is granted by the order, ordinance, or charter amendment, but in no case shall fewer than three choices be allowed if there are three or more candidates for the requisite position. Political subdivisions may permit write-in candidates.
3. Any election contest resulting from a ranked-choice voting process adopted under this section shall be heard in a circuit court of appropriate jurisdiction. The court shall give effect to the orders, ordinances, or charter amendments used to implement the ranked-choice voting process, but general state election laws shall govern all other aspects of the election insofar as such laws are not inconsistent with the orders, ordinances, and charter amendments.
4. Any political subdivision using a ranked-choice voting method shall conduct a voter education and outreach campaign to familiarize voters with ranked voting. This campaign shall be funded from general revenue and shall not in any case be construed as a state mandate.
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