This bill establishes ranked choice voting as an option for local elections in Minnesota, allowing various jurisdictions, including home rule charter cities, statutory cities, school districts, and counties, to adopt this voting method. It outlines the necessary procedures for adoption, implementation, and use, requiring jurisdictions to present a ballot question to voters for approval. The bill specifies that ranked choice voting is applicable only for local offices during general or special elections and sets timelines for its adoption and repeal. It also amends several sections of the Minnesota Statutes to incorporate ranked choice voting, introducing definitions for key terms and detailing the responsibilities of local election officials.

Additionally, the bill introduces new regulations for vote tabulation in ranked choice voting elections, including requirements for notice during vote counting, procedures for recording write-in votes, and methods for counting votes in both single-seat and multiple-seat elections. It mandates that precincts print a summary statement of first-choice votes and requires a comprehensive tabulation summary statement after elections. The bill also includes provisions for post-election reviews to ensure voting accuracy, with specific requirements for voting systems used in ranked choice voting, including certification and testing for accuracy. An appropriation is included to support the implementation of these changes, ensuring resources are available for the transition to ranked choice voting procedures.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 204B.35, 204C.21, 204D.07, 205.13, 206.57, 206.83