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MA H4189

Bill

Status

Introduced

6/4/2025

Primary Sponsor

Mindy Domb

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

194th General Court

AI Summary

  • Authorizes the Town of Amherst to use ranked choice voting in municipal elections only, notwithstanding existing Massachusetts election laws (chapters 50-54)

  • Voters rank candidates in order of preference, with votes tabulated in rounds where candidates meeting the vote threshold are elected and surplus votes transfer to next-ranked choices

  • Candidates with the lowest vote counts are eliminated each round, with their votes redistributed to voters' next-ranked continuing candidates until all seats are filled

  • Town Clerk, subject to Board of Registrars review, determines valid ballot counts, calculates thresholds, and establishes tiebreaking methods that cannot be changed during an election

  • Takes effect immediately upon approval but applies only to municipal elections occurring 120 or more days after enactment

Legislative Description

Relative to the implementation of elements of the charter for the city known as the town of Amherst

Last Action

Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

10/28/2025

Committee Referrals

Election Laws6/4/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available