HF683

Purpose

• To authorize and implement ranked choice voting (RCV) for local government elections in Minnesota.
• To establish a full framework for adopting, administering, counting, and reporting RCV elections at the local level (cities, counties, school districts) via ballot questions.
• To allow local jurisdictions to use electronic voting systems with vote reallocation features and to set up the processes and rules needed to count and verify RCV ballots.
• To create new definitions, procedures, and oversight (including rulemaking and funding) for RCV at the local level, while aligning with existing statewide election law where not superseded.

Main Provisions and What the Bill Seeks to Accomplish

• Local Adoption of RCV
  • After January 1, 2026 (or after applicable administrative rules are adopted), home rule charter or statutory cities, counties, and school districts may adopt ranked choice voting for local offices via a ballot question; adoption can be repealed in the same manner.
  • Jurisdictions must enter conditional agreements with the county(ies) responsible for administering elections if adopting RCV for elections not held with statewide elections; without an agreement, the jurisdiction must run its own local election separate from statewide elections.
  • Local jurisdictions may use RCV only for local offices and only at general or special elections.
• New RCV Framework (Chapter 204E)
  • A new chapter (204E) and related definitions govern RCV counting, ballots, tabulation, and reporting.
  • The bill sets up a centralized system for tabulation and reporting, including a designated RCV tabulation center and rules for recording and transferring votes.
• Ballot Design and Voting Process
  • Ballots for local RCV elections must allow voters to rank up to three candidates for each office (where three or more qualified candidates exist) and may include write-in candidates.
  • Ballots must include clear instructions on marking and ranking, and indicate the number of seats to be elected.
  • If elections mix ranked and nonranked votes, RCV and nonranked portions should be separated on the same ballot card where possible.
• Counting and Tabulation (Single-seat and Multi-seat)
  • Singleseat (one seat) RCV uses a single transferable vote (STV) style tabulation with rounds and transfer of votes from defeated candidates to continuing candidates.
  • Multipleseat (two or more seats) RCV uses a multi-seat STV method with rounds, surpluses, and transfers.
  • Key concepts include thresholds (the number of votes needed to be elected), highest continuing ranking, batch eliminations, surplus transfers, and transfer values.
  • If a candidate’s vote total meets the threshold, they are elected; otherwise rounds continue, with the lowest candidates defeated and their votes transferred.
  • Tie-breaking by lot is used when needed, and the results of tie decisions are recorded for recounts.
• Write-ins, Overvotes, Undervotes
  • The process provides for recording write-in votes, including a method to count declared write-in candidates and to group uncounted write-ins if no candidate files a write-in request.
  • The system accounts for undervotes (no rankings) and overvotes (ranking more than one candidate at the same ranking).
• Local Control and Rules
  • The Secretary of State will adopt rules for RCV ballot formats, and individual jurisdictions may adopt rules for local implementation.
  • The rules may set standards that differ from certain existing ballot formats to accommodate RCV.
• Reporting, Canvassing, and Recounts
  • RCV tabulation results must be reported with detailed round-by-round results, including anonymized or per-precinct data, and electronic cast vote records where ballots are scanned.
  • Canvass procedures for RCV elections resemble standard practices but include RCV-specific summary statements and disclosures.
  • Recounts are allowed for candidates defeated in the final round (or earlier rounds under certain conditions), with costs borne by the requesting candidate and rules set by the Secretary of State; the recount process may start from an earlier tabulation round if directed.
• Post-Election Review
  • A postelection review process is included (specifics in the section referenced in the bill), establishing a process to verify and review RCV results after elections.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishment of a new regulatory framework (Chapter 204E) for ranked choice voting, to be adopted alongside and in place of certain existing procedures for local elections.
• Amendments to several statutes to accommodate RCV for local elections, including:
  • 204B.35 (ballot preparation) and 204C.21 (counting processes) to direct that RCV elections are counted under the new chapter.
  • 204D.07 (nonpartisan primary ballots) to handle RCV-related omissions for certain nonpartisan offices when too few candidates file.
  • 204E.01–204E.10 (new and related definitions, authorization, ballot rules, tabulation, reporting, recounts, and postelection review) to establish RCV as a local election method.
• Local adoption mechanics requiring ballot questions, conditional agreements with counties, and timing windows (e.g., adoption no later than certain weeks before statewide elections; repeal deadlines; notification requirements to the Secretary of State and county auditors).
• Authority to use electronic voting systems with reallocation features for RCV and corresponding operational procedures (tabulation centers, recording of write-ins, and public observation rules).

What This Bill Would Not Do

• It does not apply RCV to state or federal elections; adoption is limited to local jurisdictions for local offices.
• It would not replace statewide election law outside the scope of local RCV elections, except where the new 204E framework supersedes conflicting provisions.

Timeline and Implementation Highlights

• Local adoption allowed after January 1, 2026 (or after related admin rules are in place).
• Jurisdictions must coordinate with counties if elections are not held with statewide elections.
• Repeal and adoption procedures rely on ballots and existing election-law mechanisms.
• The Secretary of State will adopt implementing rules; funding is authorized to support implementation.

Relevant Terms

• ranked choice voting
• local election official
• ballot question
• home rule charter
• statutory city
• county
• school district
• transfer value
• threshold
• highest continuing ranking
• active candidate
• undeclared candidate
• write-in votes
• undervote
• overvote
• batch elimination
• surplus
• transferable vote
• single-seat election
• multipleseat election
• round
• tie by lot
• tabulation center
• cast vote record
• canva ss
• recount
• postelection review
• conditional agreement
• ballot format
• mixed election method ballots
• administrative rules
• election canvass
• can vass board
• electronic voting system with reallocation feature

Relevant Terms - ranked choice voting - local elections - single-seat / multi-seat (STV) - transfer, surplus, threshold - write-in, undervote, overvote - de cision by lot - tabulation center - cast vote record - conditional agreement - ballot question - secretary of state - county auditor - school district clerk - local election official - canvass - recount - postelection review