SF1912

SF1912 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Ranked choice voting provision

AI Generated Summary

This bill, S.F. No. 1912, proposes authorizing the use of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for local elections in Minnesota. It establishes procedures for implementing and conducting RCV elections, allows local jurisdictions to adopt RCV for municipal, county, and school district offices, and sets requirements for the use of electronic voting systems.

Key Provisions:

1. Authorization for Local Adoption

Home rule charter cities, statutory cities, school districts, and counties may adopt RCV starting January 1, 2026, or when administrative rules are adopted.
Adoption and repeal of RCV must be approved via ballot questions presented to voters.
Local jurisdictions may not use RCV in statewide elections, only in local races.
If a city adopts RCV without county agreement, it must conduct the election separately from state elections.

2. Voting & Ballot Requirements

Ballots must allow voters to rank at least three candidates.
Instructions must be clearly provided on how to rank candidates.
When combining different election types on a ballot (e.g., RCV and non-RCV elections), RCV races must be clearly separated.

3. Tabulation Rules for Ranked Choice Voting

Establishes detailed multi-round vote counting rules for single-seat and multi-seat elections.
Candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated in rounds, and votes reallocated to the voter's next choice until a threshold is reached.
Ties are resolved by lot.

4. Election Administration & Reporting

Requires precinct-level reports on first-choice votes.
Requires casts vote records to be made available in jurisdictions using electronic ballots.
Canvass reports must include detailed voting statistics, including total votes, undervotes, inactive ballots, and transfer summaries.

5. Recounts & Post-Election Audits

Candidates defeated in the final round may request a publicly funded recount if the result is within the legal margin.
A recount may also be requested by earlier eliminated candidates, but at their own expense.
Requires post-election audits in randomly selected precincts to verify election integrity.
Voting systems must meet federal testing standards before being certified for RCV use.

6. Electronic Voting System Standards

Voting systems must:
- Capture, store, and publicly report ballot data anonymously.
- Process and tabulate RCV results automatically.
- Alert voters about potential ballot errors (e.g., overvotes or skipped rankings).

7. Rulemaking Authority

The Minnesota Secretary of State is authorized to adopt rules necessary to implement RCV.

Summary

This bill enables Minnesota jurisdictions to adopt Ranked Choice Voting for local offices while setting rules for ballots, tabulation, recounts, and electronic voting systems. It establishes uniform standards for administering RCV elections, ensuring accuracy and transparency in vote tabulation.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
February 26, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading
February 26, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Referred to	Elections
March 02, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Author added

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds a new reference to chapter 204E for ranked choice voting procedures."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies Section 204B.35 to include chapter 204E which pertains to the procedures for ballots in ranked choice voting elections for local jurisdictions.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "204B.35"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A new subdivision defining vote counting for ranked choice voting elections."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill adds a new subdivision to Section 204C.21 to specify the vote counting procedures in ranked choice voting elections as per Chapter 204E.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "204C.21"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Provision that in nonpartisan ranked choice voting elections, candidates shall be omitted from the primary ballot if not more than twice the number of individuals to be elected file for the nomination."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill amends Section 204D.07, Subdivision 3, regarding the omission of candidates from nonpartisan primary ballots.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "204D.07"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Authorization for use of electronic voting systems with a reallocation feature for ranked choice voting."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill adds a new subdivision to section 206.57 concerning voting systems.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "206.57"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This section clarifies procedures for electronic voting systems with a reallocation feature as allowed under chapter 204E.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "206.83"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A new subdivision detailing how votes in a ranked choice voting election should be counted."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill adds a subdivision to section 204C.21 regarding the counting of votes cast in ranked choice voting elections, which must now follow procedures established in Chapter 204E.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "204C.21"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amends criteria for omitting candidates from primary ballots for certain nonpartisan offices in section 204D.07, subdivision 3.",
      "modified": [
        "Includes specific provisions for omitting nonpartisan candidates in ranked choice voting elections from the state and county primary ballot if not more than twice the number of individuals to be elected files for nomination."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "204D.07"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Details procedures for counting votes in ranked choice voting elections."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "A new subdivision that addresses the counting of votes in ranked choice voting elections as established in chapter 204E.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "204C.21"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Procedures for handling ranked choice voting with electronic systems."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "A new subdivision is added to section 206.57 for specific procedures related to electronic voting systems used in ranked choice voting under chapter 204E.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "206.57"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amendment of the existing law section 206.83 to include provisions for electronic voting systems with a reallocation feature as per the proposed Chapter 204E.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "206.83"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Specifics regarding implementation and use of electronic voting systems supporting ranked choice voting."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "A new subdivision is added to regulate electronic voting systems in the context of the new ranked choice voting procedure.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "206.57"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Provisions for the delivery of materials to the ranked choice voting tabulation center."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Subdivisions added to address procedures for handling ballots and summary statements in ranked choice voting elections.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "204C.27"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Allows adoption of new ballot format rules for ranked choice voting."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Provides rules regarding ranked choice voting ballot format that may differ from existing standards in section 204B.36.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "204B.36"
  }
]