This bill proposes the authorization and regulation of ranked choice voting (RCV) for local elections in Minnesota. It establishes the legal framework, procedural requirements, and administrative guidelines for adopting and implementing RCV in cities, counties, and school districts.

Key Components of the Bill:

1. Authorization & Adoption (Section 204E.03)

   • Local jurisdictions (cities, counties, and school districts) may adopt RCV through a ballot question presented to voters.
   • Adoption must occur at least 20 weeks before the state primary or 90 days before the local filing period.
   • Local jurisdictions conducting RCV elections alongside statewide elections must enter agreements with the county responsible for administering the election.

2. Voting Process & Ballots (Sections 204E.04-204E.07)

   • Defines ranked choice voting and key terms such as "batch elimination," "overvote," "undervote," and "threshold."
   • Specifies that ballots must allow voters to rank at least three candidates per office.
   • Prescribes procedures for electronic and hand-counting of ranked votes.
   • Provides rules for both single-seat elections (e.g., mayoral races) and multi-seat elections (e.g., city councils with multiple vacancies).

3. Tabulation & Reporting (Sections 204E.08-204E.11)

   • Requires a central RCV tabulation center for processing votes.
   • Establishes detailed multi-round vote counting procedures, including:
     • Elimination of candidates with the fewest votes.
     • Reallocation of votes to the next ranked candidate.
     • Handling of ties via random selection.
   • Implements public reporting requirements, including a round-by-round breakdown of vote tallies.

4. Recounts & Audits (Sections 204E.09-204E.10)

   • Candidates defeated in the final tabulation round may request a state-funded recount if the vote margin is within a certain threshold.
   • Other candidates may request a recount at their own expense.
   • Requires post-election audits to check the accuracy of voting machines.

5. Rules & Compliance (Sections 204E.11, 206.57, 206.802)

   • Directs the Secretary of State to adopt rules for implementing RCV.
   • Specifies requirements for voting machines handling RCV ballots, including:
     • Ability to store and publicly report ballot data.
     • Notification of ballot errors like overvotes and skipped rankings.
     • Compatibility with both automatic and manual tabulation methods.

Overall Impact:

• Allows local governments to use ranked choice voting instead of traditional plurality-based elections.
• Introduces strict procedural guidelines for ballots, vote counting, and reporting.
• Ensures voter education, transparency, and security measures to facilitate fair elections.

This bill enables broader adoption of ranked choice voting across Minnesota while providing a clear legal and procedural structure for its use.