Bill Text: IA HSB183 | 2023-2024 | 90th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act allowing for the use of ranked choice voting in city elections, and including effective date and applicability provisions.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-22 - Subcommittee recommends indefinite postponement. Vote Total: 2-0. [HSB183 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2023-HSB183-Introduced.html
House
Study
Bill
183
-
Introduced
HOUSE
FILE
_____
BY
(PROPOSED
COMMITTEE
ON
STATE
GOVERNMENT
BILL
BY
CHAIRPERSON
BLOOMINGDALE)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
allowing
for
the
use
of
ranked
choice
voting
in
city
1
elections,
and
including
effective
date
and
applicability
2
provisions.
3
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
4
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H.F.
_____
Section
1.
Section
39.3,
Code
2023,
is
amended
by
adding
the
1
following
new
subsection:
2
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
10A.
“Ranked
choice
voting”
means
an
3
election
method
in
which
voters
rank
candidates
for
an
office
4
in
order
of
the
voter’s
preference
and
the
ballots
are
counted
5
in
rounds,
and
votes,
or
fractions
thereof,
are
distributed
to
6
candidates
according
to
the
preferences
marked
on
each
ballot
7
as
described
in
section
376.12.
8
Sec.
2.
NEW
SECTION
.
43.113
Special
charter
cities
——
9
ranked
choice
voting.
10
In
a
special
charter
city
holding
a
city
primary
election
11
pursuant
to
section
43.112,
the
city
may
choose
to
conduct
the
12
primary
election
by
ranked
choice
voting
as
provided
in
section
13
376.12.
14
Sec.
3.
Section
43.117,
Code
2023,
is
amended
to
read
as
15
follows:
16
43.117
Plurality
vote
nominates
and
elects.
17
A
plurality
shall
nominate
the
party
candidate
for
all
18
offices
filled
by
elections
authorized
by
section
43.112
,
and
19
a
plurality
shall
elect
the
precinct
committee
members.
In
a
20
special
charter
city
that
uses
ranked
choice
voting
for
the
21
nomination
of
party
candidates
and
precinct
committee
members,
22
the
candidate
having
the
greatest
number
of
votes
under
section
23
376.12,
subsection
4,
or
designated
as
elected
under
section
24
376.12,
subsection
5,
shall
be
considered
to
have
obtained
a
25
plurality
of
votes.
26
Sec.
4.
Section
49.31,
subsection
4,
Code
2023,
is
amended
27
to
read
as
follows:
28
4.
The
Except
for
an
office
elected
by
ranked
choice
voting,
29
the
heading
for
each
office
on
the
ballot
shall
be
immediately
30
followed
by
a
notation
stating,
“Vote
for
no
more
than
...
”,
31
and
indicating
the
maximum
number
of
nominees
or
candidates
for
32
that
office
for
whom
each
elector
may
vote.
33
Sec.
5.
Section
50.1A,
Code
2023,
is
amended
to
read
as
34
follows:
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50.1A
Canvass
by
officials.
1
1.
At
every
election
conducted
under
chapter
49
,
except
the
2
primary
election
provided
for
by
chapter
43
,
and
at
every
other
3
election
unless
the
law
authorizing
the
election
otherwise
4
requires,
the
vote
shall
be
canvassed
at
each
polling
place
by
5
the
election
board
in
the
manner
prescribed
by
this
chapter
.
6
When
the
poll
is
closed,
the
precinct
election
officials
shall
7
forthwith,
and
without
adjournment:
8
1.
a.
Publicly
canvass
the
vote,
and
credit
each
candidate
9
with
the
number
of
votes
counted
for
the
candidate.
10
2.
b.
Ascertain
the
result
of
the
vote.
11
3.
c.
Prepare
in
writing
a
list
of
any
apparently
or
12
possibly
erroneous
information
appearing
in
the
precinct
13
election
register.
14
4.
d.
Designate
two
election
board
members,
not
members
15
of
the
same
political
party,
who
shall
each
separately
keep
a
16
tally
list
of
the
count.
17
2.
The
precinct
election
officials
shall
canvass
the
vote
18
for
an
office
elected
by
ranked
choice
voting
according
to
19
rules
adopted
by
the
state
commissioner
pursuant
to
section
20
50.36A.
21
Sec.
6.
Section
50.22,
Code
2023,
is
amended
by
adding
the
22
following
new
subsection:
23
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
5.
The
special
precinct
board
shall
24
canvass
the
vote
for
an
office
elected
by
ranked
choice
voting
25
according
to
rules
adopted
by
the
state
commissioner
pursuant
26
to
section
50.36A.
27
Sec.
7.
Section
50.24,
Code
2023,
is
amended
by
adding
the
28
following
new
subsection:
29
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
1A.
The
board
of
supervisors
shall
30
canvass
the
vote
for
an
office
elected
by
ranked
choice
voting
31
according
to
rules
adopted
by
the
state
commissioner.
32
Sec.
8.
NEW
SECTION
.
50.36A
Offices
elected
by
ranked
33
choice
voting
——
determination
of
winner.
34
The
winner
of
an
election
for
an
office
elected
by
ranked
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_____
choice
voting
shall
be
determined
as
provided
in
section
1
376.12.
The
state
commissioner
shall
adopt
rules
pursuant
2
to
chapter
17A
to
provide
for
the
tallying,
canvassing,
and
3
tabulation
of
ballots
for
an
office
elected
by
ranked
choice
4
voting.
5
Sec.
9.
Section
376.6,
subsection
1,
paragraphs
a
and
b,
6
Code
2023,
are
amended
to
read
as
follows:
7
a.
The
council
may
by
ordinance
choose
to
have
a
runoff
8
election,
as
provided
in
section
376.9
,
or
a
ranked
choice
9
voting
election,
as
provided
in
section
376.12,
in
lieu
of
a
10
primary
election.
11
b.
If
the
council
has
by
ordinance
chosen
to
have
12
nominations
made
in
the
manner
provided
by
chapter
44
or
45
,
or
13
a
ranked
choice
voting
election,
as
provided
in
section
376.12,
14
neither
a
primary
election
nor
a
runoff
election
nor
a
ranked
15
choice
voting
election
is
required.
16
Sec.
10.
Section
376.6,
subsection
2,
Code
2023,
is
amended
17
to
read
as
follows:
18
2.
Each
city
clerk
shall
certify
to
the
city’s
controlling
19
commissioner
of
elections
under
section
47.2
the
type
of
20
nomination
process
to
be
used
for
the
city
no
later
than
ninety
21
days
before
the
date
of
the
regular
city
election.
If
the
city
22
has
by
ordinance
chosen
a
runoff
election
,
has
chosen
a
ranked
23
choice
voting
election,
or
has
chosen
to
have
nominations
made
24
in
the
manner
provided
by
chapter
44
or
45
,
or
has
repealed
25
nomination
provisions
under
those
sections
in
preference
for
26
the
primary
election
method,
a
copy
of
the
city
ordinance
shall
27
be
attached.
No
changes
in
the
method
of
nomination
to
be
28
used
in
a
city
shall
be
made
after
the
clerk
has
filed
the
29
certification
with
the
commissioner,
unless
the
change
will
not
30
take
effect
until
after
the
next
regular
city
election.
31
Sec.
11.
NEW
SECTION
.
376.12
Ranked
choice
voting
election.
32
1.
For
the
purposes
of
this
section:
33
a.
“Active
candidate”
means
a
candidate
that
has
not
been
34
defeated
or
elected.
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b.
“Election
threshold”
means
the
number
of
votes
sufficient
1
for
a
candidate
to
be
elected
in
a
multi-winner
election.
The
2
election
threshold
equals
the
total
votes
counted
for
active
3
candidates
in
the
first
round
of
tabulation,
divided
by
the
sum
4
of
one
plus
the
number
of
offices
to
be
filled,
then
adding
5
one,
disregarding
any
fractions.
6
c.
“Highest-ranked
active
candidate”
means
the
active
7
candidate
assigned
to
a
higher
ranking
than
any
other
active
8
candidate.
9
d.
“Inactive
ballot”
means
a
ballot
that
does
not
count
for
10
any
candidate
as
specified
in
subsection
6.
11
e.
“Overvote”
means
an
instance
in
which
a
voter
has
ranked
12
more
than
one
candidate
at
the
same
ranking.
13
f.
“Ranking”
means
the
number
available
to
be
assigned
by
14
a
voter
to
a
candidate
to
express
the
voter’s
choice
for
that
15
candidate,
with
ranking
number
one
being
the
highest
ranking.
16
g.
“Round”
means
an
instance
of
the
sequence
of
voting
17
tabulation
steps
established
in
subsection
4
or
5.
18
h.
“Skipped
ranking”
means
a
circumstance
in
which
a
voter
19
omits
a
ranking
number
and
subsequently
ranks
a
candidate
using
20
a
lower
ranking
number
than
the
ranking
number
omitted.
21
i.
“Surplus
fraction”
means
a
number
equal
to
the
quotient
22
of
the
difference
between
an
elected
candidate’s
vote
total
and
23
the
election
threshold,
divided
by
the
candidate’s
vote
total,
24
truncated
after
four
decimal
places.
25
j.
“Transfer
value”
means
the
proportion
of
a
vote
that
a
26
ballot
will
contribute
to
its
highest-ranked
active
candidate,
27
which
starts
at
one.
28
k.
“Undervote”
means
a
ballot
that
does
not
contain
any
29
candidates
at
any
ranking
in
a
particular
election.
30
2.
A
city
that
has
chosen
by
ordinance
to
conduct
city
31
elections
using
ranked
choice
voting
shall
not
hold
a
separate
32
primary
or
runoff
election,
unless
the
city
holds
partisan
33
elections
as
provided
in
sections
43.112
through
43.118
and
34
sections
420.126
through
420.137.
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3.
a.
In
an
election
conducted
by
ranked
choice
voting,
1
the
ballot
shall
allow
a
voter
to
rank
candidates
in
order
of
2
choice,
and
ranking
candidates
shall
not
constitute
voting
for
3
more
than
one
candidate
or
for
more
than
the
number
of
persons
4
to
be
elected
as
provided
in
section
49.93,
unless
the
ballot
5
includes
an
overvote.
6
b.
The
ballot
shall
allow
a
voter
to
rank
as
many
choices
as
7
there
are
qualified
candidates,
including
qualified
write-in
8
candidates,
except
as
provided
in
this
section.
If
voting
9
equipment
cannot
accommodate
a
number
of
rankings
on
the
ballot
10
equal
to
the
number
of
qualified
candidates,
the
controlling
11
commissioner
of
elections
may
limit
the
number
of
choices
a
12
voter
may
rank
on
a
ballot
to
the
maximum
number
allowed
by
the
13
equipment.
If
multiple
types
of
voting
equipment
are
used
in
14
an
election
for
the
same
office,
the
controlling
commissioner
15
of
elections
shall
ensure
that
every
ballot
allows
voters
to
16
rank
the
same
number
of
candidates.
17
4.
In
an
election
for
one
office
conducted
by
ranked
18
choice
voting,
each
ballot
shall
count
as
one
vote
for
the
19
highest-ranked
active
candidate
on
that
ballot.
Tabulation
20
shall
proceed
in
rounds
with
each
round
proceeding
sequentially
21
as
follows:
22
a.
If
two
or
fewer
active
candidates
remain,
the
candidate
23
with
the
greatest
number
of
votes
is
elected
and
tabulation
is
24
complete.
25
b.
If
more
than
two
active
candidates
remain,
the
active
26
candidate
with
the
fewest
votes
is
defeated,
votes
for
the
27
defeated
candidate
are
transferred
to
each
ballot’s
next-ranked
28
active
candidate,
and
a
new
round
begins
as
provided
in
29
paragraph
“a”
.
30
5.
a.
In
an
election
for
more
than
one
office
conducted
by
31
ranked
choice
voting,
each
ballot
shall
count,
at
its
current
32
transfer
value,
for
the
highest-ranked
active
candidate
on
that
33
ballot.
Tabulation
shall
proceed
in
rounds
with
each
round
34
proceeding
sequentially
as
follows:
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(1)
If
the
sum
of
the
number
of
elected
candidates
and
1
the
number
of
active
candidates
is
less
than
or
equal
to
the
2
number
of
seats
to
be
filled,
then
all
active
candidates
are
3
designated
as
elected,
and
tabulation
is
complete.
4
(2)
If
an
active
candidate
has
a
number
of
votes
greater
5
than
or
equal
to
the
election
threshold
for
the
election,
6
that
candidate
shall
be
designated
as
elected.
If
the
number
7
of
elected
candidates
is
equal
to
the
number
of
seats
to
8
be
filled,
tabulation
is
complete.
Otherwise,
each
ballot
9
counting
for
an
elected
candidate
is
assigned
a
new
transfer
10
value
by
multiplying
the
ballot’s
current
transfer
value
by
the
11
surplus
fraction
for
the
elected
candidate,
truncated
after
12
the
fourth
decimal
place.
Each
candidate
elected
under
this
13
subparagraph
is
deemed
to
have
a
number
of
votes
equal
to
the
14
election
threshold
for
the
election
in
all
future
rounds
and
a
15
new
round
begins
pursuant
to
subparagraph
(1).
16
(3)
If
no
candidate
is
elected
pursuant
to
subparagraph
(2),
17
the
candidate
with
the
fewest
votes
is
defeated
and
votes
for
18
the
defeated
candidates
shall
be
transferred
at
their
current
19
transfer
value
to
each
ballot’s
next-ranked
active
candidate
20
and
a
new
round
begins
pursuant
to
subparagraph
(1).
21
b.
If,
in
a
round
of
counting
conducted
pursuant
to
this
22
subsection,
two
or
more
candidates
have
a
number
of
surplus
23
votes
greater
than
the
election
threshold
for
the
election,
24
the
surpluses
shall
be
distributed
in
rounds
in
which
the
25
largest
surplus
is
distributed
first,
with
any
ties
resolved
26
by
lot.
The
controlling
commissioner
of
elections
may
modify
27
the
procedure
to
distribute
surpluses
simultaneously
in
the
28
same
round,
provided
that
such
modification
is
made
prior
to
29
the
election.
30
6.
a.
In
any
round
of
tabulation
conducted
pursuant
to
31
subsection
4
or
5,
an
inactive
ballot
does
not
count
for
any
32
candidate.
A
ballot
is
inactive
if
any
of
the
following
are
33
true:
34
(1)
It
does
not
contain
any
active
candidates
and
is
not
an
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undervote.
1
(2)
It
has
reached
an
overvote.
2
(3)
It
has
reached
two
consecutive
skipped
rankings.
3
b.
An
undervote
does
not
count
as
an
active
or
inactive
4
ballot
in
any
round
of
tabulation.
5
7.
In
an
election
conducted
by
ranked
choice
voting,
the
6
controlling
commissioner
of
elections
may
modify
the
tabulation
7
to
include
batch
elimination.
In
a
tabulation
including
batch
8
elimination,
when
the
active
candidate
with
the
fewest
votes
9
would
be
defeated,
all
active
candidates
in
the
elimination
10
batch
are
simultaneously
defeated.
An
active
candidate
is
11
in
the
elimination
batch
if
the
number
of
elected
and
active
12
candidates
with
more
votes
than
that
candidate
is
greater
than
13
the
number
of
offices
to
be
elected,
and
it
is
mathematically
14
impossible
for
that
candidate
to
be
elected
for
any
of
the
15
following
reasons:
16
a.
The
candidate
could
never
win
because
the
candidate’s
17
current
vote
total
plus
all
votes
that
could
possibly
be
18
transferred
to
the
candidate
in
future
rounds
would
not
be
19
enough
to
equal
or
surpass
the
active
candidate
with
the
20
next-higher
current
vote
total.
The
number
of
votes
that
could
21
possibly
be
transferred
to
the
candidate
in
future
rounds
22
includes
the
number
of
votes
for
candidates
with
equal
or
fewer
23
votes
than
that
candidate,
regardless
of
whether
the
candidate
24
is
ranked
at
a
lower
ranking
on
ballots
counting
for
other
25
candidates.
26
b.
The
candidate
has
a
lower
current
vote
total
than
an
27
active
candidate
described
in
paragraph
“a”
.
28
8.
If
two
or
more
candidates
are
tied
with
the
fewest
votes
29
and
tabulation
cannot
continue
until
the
candidate
with
the
30
fewest
votes
is
defeated,
then
the
candidate
to
be
defeated
31
shall
be
determined
by
lot.
The
controlling
commissioner
may
32
resolve
prospective
ties
between
candidates
prior
to
tabulation
33
but
after
all
votes
are
cast.
The
result
of
any
tie
resolution
34
shall
be
recorded
and
reused
in
the
event
of
a
recount.
35
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9.
a.
The
state
commissioner
of
elections
shall,
after
1
consultation
with
county
commissioners
of
elections,
adopt
2
rules
pursuant
to
chapter
17A
for
the
release
of
unofficial
3
preliminary
round-by-round
results
and
unofficial
preliminary
4
cast
vote
records
as
soon
as
feasible
after
the
polls
close
and
5
at
regular
intervals
thereafter
until
the
counting
of
ballots
6
is
complete.
7
b.
Unofficial
preliminary
round-by-round
results
shall
8
be
clearly
labeled
as
preliminary
and
shall,
to
the
extent
9
feasible,
include
the
percent
of
ballots
counted
to
date.
10
c.
Unofficial
preliminary
cast
vote
records
shall
be
all
of
11
the
following:
12
(1)
Clearly
labeled
as
preliminary
and,
to
the
extent
13
feasible,
include
the
percent
of
ballots
counted
to
date.
14
(2)
Published
online
in
a
publicly
accessible,
electronic
15
format.
16
(3)
Identifiable
by
precinct
to
the
extent
such
17
identification
can
be
provided
consistent
with
voter
privacy.
18
10.
In
addition
to
any
other
information
required
by
law
19
to
be
reported
with
final
results,
the
commissioner
shall
make
20
public
all
of
the
following:
21
a.
The
total
number
of
votes
each
candidate
received
in
each
22
round
of
the
official
tabulation,
including
votes
for
withdrawn
23
candidates.
24
b.
The
total
number
of
ballots
that
became
inactive
in
25
each
round
because
they
did
not
contain
any
active
candidates,
26
reached
an
overvote,
or
reached
two
consecutive
skipped
27
rankings,
reported
as
separate
figures.
28
c.
The
cast
vote
records
in
a
publicly
accessible,
29
electronic
format
that
is
identifiable
by
precinct
to
the
30
extent
such
identification
can
be
provided
consistent
with
31
voter
privacy.
32
Sec.
12.
EFFECTIVE
DATE.
This
Act,
being
deemed
of
33
immediate
importance,
takes
effect
upon
enactment.
34
Sec.
13.
APPLICABILITY.
This
Act
applies
to
city
elections
35
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H.F.
_____
that
are
held
on
or
after
January
1,
2024,
and
that
are
also
1
held
ninety
or
more
days
after
the
adoption
of
a
city
ordinance
2
to
use
ranked
choice
voting,
as
specified
in
the
ordinance.
3
EXPLANATION
4
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
5
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
6
This
bill
provides
for
ranked
choice
voting
for
city
7
elections.
The
bill
allows
a
city
to
adopt
ranked
choice
8
voting
by
ordinance
for
city
elections.
Ranked
choice
9
voting
is
a
method
of
casting
and
tabulating
votes
in
which
10
voters
rank
candidates
in
order
of
preference
and
tabulation
11
proceeds
in
rounds
in
which
candidates
are
eliminated
and
12
votes
redistributed
until
the
number
of
candidates
remaining
13
is
equal
to
or
less
than
the
number
of
offices
to
be
filled.
14
The
bill
includes
procedures
for
the
tabulation
of
ballots
and
15
redistribution
of
votes
and
requires
the
state
commissioner
16
of
elections
to
adopt
rules
to
provide
for
the
tallying,
17
canvassing,
and
tabulation
of
ballots
for
an
office
elected
18
by
ranked
choice
voting.
The
bill
also
requires
the
state
19
commissioner
of
elections,
after
consultation
with
county
20
commissioners
of
elections,
to
adopt
rules
for
the
release
of
21
preliminary
round-by-round
results
and
cast
vote
records
in
22
ranked
choice
voting
elections.
23
In
addition
to
information
currently
required
by
law,
the
24
bill
requires
a
report
of
the
final
results
of
a
ranked
choice
25
voting
election
to
include
the
total
number
of
votes
each
26
candidate
received
in
each
round
of
the
official
tabulation,
27
including
votes
for
withdrawn
candidates,
the
total
number
of
28
ballots
that
became
inactive
in
each
round
because
they
did
not
29
contain
any
active
candidates,
reached
an
overvote,
or
reached
30
two
consecutive
skipped
rankings,
reported
as
separate
figures,
31
and
the
cast
vote
records
in
a
publicly
accessible,
electronic
32
format
that
is
identifiable
by
precinct
to
the
extent
such
33
identification
can
be
provided
consistent
with
voter
privacy.
34
The
bill
takes
effect
upon
enactment
and
applies
to
city
35
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