The bill establishes a framework for implementing ranked choice voting (RCV) in local elections across various jurisdictions in Washington State, including counties, cities, towns, school districts, fire districts, and port districts. It introduces provisions that allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference and outlines the procedures for counting votes, resolving ties, and conducting primaries. Key amendments require jurisdictions adopting RCV to implement it within two years and specify that primary elections for single-winner contests will narrow candidates down to five. The bill also clarifies that RCV cannot be used in elections with two or fewer candidates and mandates the creation of a work group to assist the Secretary of State in developing rules and educational materials for effective implementation.

Additionally, the legislation specifies that beginning in 2022, county commissioners in noncharter counties with populations of 400,000 or more must be elected by qualified electors of their respective districts. It allows local jurisdictions to decide whether to treat council or director positions as separate offices when adopting RCV. The bill also addresses financial responsibilities related to implementing RCV, ensuring costs are allocated to the jurisdictions utilizing this voting method. It repeals existing laws that conflict with the new provisions and requires the Secretary of State to adopt rules for administering the RCV system by May 1, 2025, ultimately aiming to enhance voter engagement and representation in local elections.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 29A.60.221, 29A.36.131, 29A.52.220, 36.32.040, 29A.92.040, 35A.12.040, 28A.343.320, 29A.04.410, 29A.12.080, 29A.36.121, 29A.04.127