Ranked Choice Voting Finds Its Way to the Floor of the US House

image
Author: Rob Richie
Created: 03 Mar, 2019
Updated: 14 Aug, 2022
1 min read

WASHINGTON, DC - The sweeping electoral reform measures encompassed in H.R. 1 expanded even further with the addition of a ranked choice voting clause.

Backers of the bill recently added language proposed by U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md) who represents the district that includes FairVote’s national offices. The common sense change to the bill aims to help states and cities run ranked choice voting elections all the more efficiently by requiring funding for new voting systems to make use of RCV-compatible equipment.

Specifically, the clause states:

ABILITY OF REPLACEMENT SYSTEMS TO ADMINISTER RANKED CHOICE ELECTIONS.— To the greatest extent practicable, an eligible State which receives a grant to replace a voting system under this section shall ensure that the replacement system is capable of administering a system of ranked choice voting under which each voter shall rank the candidates for the office in the order of the voter’s preference.

The bill is slated to go to a floor vote before the full U.S. House of Representatives in March, with support from 235 of the 434 members. Though a majority of the omnibus electoral reform and voting rights bill’s provisions have passed in several states with bipartisan support, the congressional bill still lacks Republican sponsors.

Read the full text of the bill’s latest version here.

Editor's Note: This quick take originally published on FairVote's website and has been republished with permission from the author.

Photo Credit: lazyllama / shutterstock.com

IVP Donate

Latest articles

Stack of mail ballots.
New Report Finds Universal Vote at Home States Nearly Doubled Turnout in 2024 Primaries
The National Vote at Home Institute (NVAHI) released a new report Monday that states with Universal Vote at Home (VAH) saw nearly double the voter turnout in the 2024 primary elections compared to states that didn't offer it....
31 Mar, 2025
-
2 min read
Chicago skyline
Mayors of America's Largest Cities Embrace Ranked Choice Voting
Mayors of big cities across the country are coming out in support of ranked choice voting (RCV). RCV is currently used in 46 U.S. cities, including the most populous cities in seven states....
31 Mar, 2025
-
3 min read
Image of Washington DC with the US Capitol in the background.
This Isn't the Political Makeover Independent Voters Hoped to Get
Both parties have undergone radical transformations, leaving many Americans feeling politically homeless and eager for a new alternative....
31 Mar, 2025
-
2 min read