HI HB179

Authorizes ranked choice voting for special elections held for Congressional races in Hawaii, where voters rank candidates in order of preference.

Establishes the tabulation procedure: if a candidate receives a majority of votes in the initial count, they win; otherwise, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated each round, and their votes transfer to voters' next-choice candidates until a winner is determined.

Requires special elections conducted by ranked choice voting to be held by mail, with no separate runoff election, and mandates the chief election officer provide sample ballots, educational materials, and explanations of the voting method.

Allows modifications to ballot design and tabulation procedures prior to 2021 to accommodate Hawaii's current voting system, including limiting allowable rankings to no fewer than three and adjusting tie-resolution methods as necessary.

Takes effect July 1, 2050, with the chief election officer and county clerks required to adopt administrative rules by a deadline to be specified.