The bill H.363 proposes to allow towns, cities, and villages in Vermont to adopt a ranked-choice voting system for elections of candidates running for single-seat offices. It introduces a new subchapter in the Vermont Statutes Annotated (17 V.S.A. chapter 55, subchapter 4) that outlines the definitions, application, ballot form, implementation, and results reporting for this voting system. Key definitions include "candidate," "candidate pairing," and "consistent majority winner," among others. The bill stipulates that the ranked-choice voting system will only apply if a local governing body votes to adopt it, and once adopted, it will remain in effect until a subsequent vote to discontinue its use.

The bill also details the mechanics of the ranked-choice voting process, including how ballots should be structured to allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference and how votes will be counted. It specifies that if no candidate receives a majority of first-ranked preferences, a series of paired comparisons will determine the winner. Additionally, the Secretary of State is tasked with adopting rules for the administration of the ranked-choice voting system. The act is set to take effect upon passage.