MN SF1815

Authorizes Minnesota cities, school districts, and counties to adopt ranked choice voting (RCV) for local elections through voter-approved ballot questions, effective after January 1, 2026 or adoption of administrative rules by the Secretary of State, whichever is later

Requires ballots to allow voters to rank at least three candidates in order of preference, with votes tabulated through successive rounds where the lowest-vote candidates are eliminated and their votes transferred until a candidate reaches the required threshold

Establishes detailed procedures for single-seat elections (requiring majority threshold) and multiple-seat elections (using proportional single transferable vote method), including rules for handling ties, surplus vote transfers, and ballot irregularities like skipped rankings or overvotes

Mandates that jurisdictions using RCV in conjunction with statewide elections must first enter agreements with their county, and requires the Secretary of State to adopt administrative rules and certify compliant voting equipment before implementation

Appropriates unspecified amounts from the general fund to the Secretary of State in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 for implementation costs