MN SF2131

Authorizes Minnesota cities, school districts, and counties to adopt ranked choice voting 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 jurisdictions using ranked choice voting to allow voters to rank at least three candidates in order of preference, with ballots counted through sequential elimination rounds until a candidate reaches the required threshold

Establishes detailed tabulation procedures for both single-seat elections (using instant runoff method) and multiple-seat elections (using single transferable vote method with surplus vote transfers)

Mandates voting systems used for ranked choice voting be certified by Election Assistance Commission-accredited test labs and capable of capturing cast vote records, notifying voters of errors, and providing minimum three rankings

Requires postelection reviews comparing hand counts to electronic results, with expanded review triggered if discrepancies exceed statutory thresholds, and appropriates unspecified funding to the Secretary of State for implementation