CT HB05820

Establishes a task force to study implementing ranked-choice voting for state and municipal elections in Connecticut, where voters rank candidates by preference and tabulation continues in sequential rounds until one candidate receives over 50% of votes cast.

Task force shall examine feasibility of implementation, required changes to election administration processes, potential costs and benefits, and recommended statutory changes needed.

Task force composition includes 8 members: two appointed by House Speaker (one with election administration expertise), two by Senate President Pro Tempore (one registrar of voters), one town clerk from House majority leader, one with municipal election expertise from Senate majority leader, one with state election expertise from House minority leader, one registrar of voters from Senate minority leader, Secretary of State (or designee), and executive director of State Elections Enforcement Commission (or designee).

All appointments must be made within 30 days of the act's effective date; chairpersons shall be selected by House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tempore; first meeting must be held within 60 days of effective date.

Task force must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee on elections no later than January 1, 2020, and shall terminate upon report submission or January 1, 2020, whichever is later.