The bill, titled "AN ACT enabling ranked-choice voting for municipal elections," introduces ranked-choice voting (RCV) procedures for municipal elections in New Hampshire. It amends existing laws by inserting a new section, RSA 652:16-i, which defines "ranked choice voting" and outlines the process where voters rank candidates in order of preference. The bill also modifies RSA 669:23 to include specific instructions for ranked-choice voting on ballots, ensuring voters understand how to mark their choices. Additionally, it establishes new definitions related to the voting process, such as "active candidate," "overvote," and "undervote," to enhance clarity and facilitate accurate vote counting.

Municipalities can opt to implement ranked-choice voting for local elections by notifying the Secretary of State at least 90 days prior to the election. The bill details the counting process for both single and multi-winner elections, including how votes are redistributed when candidates are eliminated. It mandates the Secretary of State to create uniform rules for administering RCV elections and requires the release of election results in a machine-readable format. While the bill does not allocate funding or authorize new positions, it acknowledges potential costs for local governments related to vote tabulation and training, which may lead to indeterminable increases in local expenditures starting in fiscal year 2026. The provisions of the act are set to take effect on August 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 669:23, 656:42, 659:17, 659:59, 659:73, 669:38