SF2270 Bill Summary

• Establishes a Statewide Ranked Choice Voting Implementation Task Force with 30 members representing election officials, local governments, legislators, and community organizations to recommend standards and implementation timelines for ranked choice voting in federal and state elections, with reports due by February 15, 2024, January 15, 2025, February 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027.

• Authorizes political subdivisions (counties, cities, school districts) to voluntarily adopt ranked choice voting for local elections after January 1, 2024, through ordinance, resolution, ballot question, or charter amendment, with adoption or repeal required at least 90 days before candidacy filing.

• Creates comprehensive ranked choice voting procedures in new Chapter 204E including ballot format requirements (minimum 3 rankings), vote tabulation methods for single-seat and multiple-seat elections, handling of write-in votes, recounts, and post-election audits.

• Allows municipalities to use electronic voting systems with software reallocation features compatible with ranked choice voting and requires voting equipment purchased after enactment to support ranked choice voting capabilities.

• Appropriates funds for task force operations and establishes grant program for local governments to cover equipment upgrades and public education costs related to implementing ranked choice voting.