TITLE 34

ELECTIONS

CHAPTER 9

BALLOTS

34-903B.  ranked choice voting prohibited. (1) No county elections office shall use ranked choice voting or instant runoff voting to conduct an election or nomination of any candidate in this state for any local government, statewide, or federal elective office.

(2)  For the purpose of this section:

(a)  "Local government" means any municipality, county, school district, special taxing district, or any other regional or local district or unit of government that is governed by one (1) or more elected officials.

(b)  "Ranked choice voting" or "instant runoff voting" means a method of casting and tabulating votes in which:

(i)   Voters rank candidates in order of preference;

(ii)  Tabulation proceeds in rounds such that in each round either a candidate or candidates are elected or the last-place candidate is defeated;

(iii) Votes are transferred from elected or defeated candidates to the voters’ next ranked candidate or candidates in order of preference; and

(iv)  Tabulation ends when a candidate receives the majority of votes cast or the number of candidates elected equals the number of offices to be filled.

(3)  Any local government ordinance in conflict with this section is void.

History:

[34-903B, added 2023, ch. 135, sec. 1, p. 379.]