This bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by introducing a new section, 3-1-52, which explicitly prohibits ranked choice voting within the state. Ranked choice voting is defined in the bill as a voting method where voters rank candidates in order of preference, and votes are tabulated in rounds, eliminating the candidate with the least support in each round. The bill states that ranked choice voting cannot be used for electing or nominating candidates for any local, state, or federal office, rendering any election that employs this method invalid. Furthermore, no official can be sworn into office based on the results of such an election.

The bill also clarifies that the prohibition on ranked choice voting does not extend to the internal processes of political parties, such as conventions or the election of party officers, which are considered nonpublic decision-making procedures. This legislation reflects a clear intent to maintain traditional voting methods in West Virginia while allowing political parties to manage their internal elections as they see fit.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-1-52