NJ S1643

Municipalities and school boards may adopt ranked-choice voting for local elections through governing body ordinance/resolution with voter referendum approval, or through voter-initiated petition requiring signatures from 10% of voters from the last General Assembly election.

Single-winner races (mayor, ward-based council/school board seats) use the instant runoff method, where candidates with over 50% of votes win, otherwise the lowest vote-getter is eliminated and votes are redistributed until a winner is determined.

Multi-winner races (at-large council/school board seats) use the single transferable vote method with an election threshold formula, where surplus votes from elected candidates transfer proportionally to voters' next-ranked choices.

Primary elections are excluded from ranked-choice voting requirements under this bill.

The Division of Elections in the Department of State must adopt rules and provide guidelines to assist local officials in implementing ranked-choice voting elections.