HB 1897 -- Ranked-Choice Voting

Sponsor:  Zimmerman

This bill allows political subdivisions to conduct ranked-choice
voting for single-winner elections or multiple-candidate
elections.  Ranked-choice voting provisions must be specified by
an order, ordinance, or charter amendment of the political
subdivision.  Charter amendments must be used to enact
ranked-choice voting in any home rule city in which the charter
prohibits the adoption of election procedures by order or
ordinance.  Rules for calculating winning thresholds,
transferring votes, eliminating candidates with the fewest votes,
resolving ties, and counting ballots must be specified in the
enacting orders, ordinances, or charter amendments.
Ranked-choice voting ballots must allow voters to rank as many
choices as there are candidates; however, local election
authorities may limit the number of candidates appearing on the
ballot under certain specified conditions but must have at least
three choices per position if there are three or more candidates
for the position.

Any election contest resulting from a ranked-choice voting
process must be decided by the appropriate circuit court which
will give effect to the orders, ordinances, or charters used to
implement the process.  General state election laws will govern
to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the adopted
order, ordinance, or charter amendment.

Political subdivisions adopting ranked-choice voting must conduct
a voter education and outreach campaign to familiarize voters
with ranked voting.  The outreach program must be funded by
general revenue and not construed as a state mandate.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:12 pm