Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-858

OTH 858

Ranked Choice Voting Exploratory Committee

Mr. Collins moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section x the following section:-

"SECTION X. (a) There shall be established a special advisory committee to be known as the municipal ranked choice voting exploratory committee to examine the feasibility and potential impacts of allowing cities and towns in the commonwealth to use ranked choice voting in municipal elections. The committee shall study and make recommendations on: (i) municipal election contexts where ranked choice voting may be considered; (ii)assessment of administrative feasibility for cities and towns, including ballot design considerations, tabulation processes, reporting timelines, recount implications, and staffing/training needs (iii) assessment of anticipated fiscal impacts; (iv) other education considerations for municipal elections; (v) an assessment of potential impacts on municipal elections, including voter experience, ballot completion/error rates, candidate field dynamics, and  campaign conduct; (v) description of lawful pathways for cities and towns to adopt ranked choice voting.

(b) The commission shall consist of 15 members: the Secretary of the Commonwealth, or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the director of the elections division with the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, or a designee; 2 municipal election officials, at least 1 city and 1 town, appointed by the Massachusetts Municipal Association; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Town Clerks’ Association;  1 member appointed by the Massachusetts City Clerks Association or success or statewide association representing city clerks or election administrators; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Office on Disability; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing ,or designee with communication-access expertise; 1 member appointed by the senate president; 1 member appointed by the senate minority leader; 1 member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and 1 member appointed by the house minority leader.

c) The committee shall be strictly advisory and shall focus exclusively on city and town elections and shall not examine or recommend changes to state or federal election methods

e) The committee shall meet as necessary to complete its work and shall conduct not fewer than 4 public community discussions in geographically diverse regions of the commonwealth, with at least: 1 in western Massachusetts, 1 in central Massachusetts, 1 in Greater Boston, and 1 in southeastern or northeastern

Massachusetts. Each discussion shall provide a remote participation option.

f) The committee shall, to the maximum extent practicable, provide reasonable accommodations and communication access, including captioning and interpretation, and shall provide translation and interpretation for public sessions and key public-facing materials based on community language needs.

g)  Not later than December 1, 2026, the committee shall file a report, including any recommended legislation to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives; the senate president and the speaker of the house of representatives; the senate and house minority leaders; and the chairs of the joint committee on election laws."