MA H835

Amends Easthampton's city charter to replace the existing definition of "ranked choice voting" with detailed specifications for how voters rank candidates and how votes are tabulated through successive rounds

Requires all elected city offices to use ranked choice voting, with an exception for races with only one qualified candidate (which would use plurality voting)

Creates a 7-member ad hoc committee appointed by the city council president to revise the existing ranked choice voting ordinance, including the city clerk, 1 registrar of voters member, 2 city councilors, and 3 registered voters

Requires the ranked choice voting provision to be placed on the ballot for voter acceptance at the next city election, with implementation delayed at least 45 days after ballot approval

Has already received local approval from the mayor and city council; similar legislation was filed in the 2023-2024 session as House No. 5068