This model statute is based on an Alabama statute.  For alternative formats, see the the cumulative voting statute for Texas school board elections and the statutory language used in Peoria, Illinois, which uses the equal-allocation "Peoria" method of cumulative voting.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

Relating to elections in the town/city of _______________; providing for elections by a method known as cumulative voting; describing and defining such election method.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF _______:

Section 1. Elections for the town/city council of _____________ shall henceforth be elected by the method known as cumulative voting.

Section 2. The council shall consist of five members who shall be elected at large by the voters of the town/city. Each voter shall cast up to five votes and may distribute them among candidates in any manner the voter chooses, including casting more than one vote for a candidate. The five candidates receiving the most votes shall be elected. There shall be no runoff. Ties shall be broken by lot.

Section 3. The ballot shall be in substantially the following form:

INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTER: Cast up to five votes by placing X's in boxes next to candidates you wish to vote for. You may cast more than one vote for one or more candidates, but no more than five votes total

Candidate	Vote One	Vote Two	Vote Three	Vote Four	Vote Five
Candidate A
Candidate B
Candidate C
Candidate E
Candidate F
Candidate G
Candidate H

 

October 19th 2009
A better election system
Lowell Sun

Election expert Doug Amy explains how choice voting can "inject new blood" into the elections of Lowell (MA), and give voters a greater incentive to participate.

October 16th 2009
Haven't Detroit voters spoken enough?
Livingston Daily

In Detroit, there have been three mayors in the past two years and the current one has come under scrutiny. Perhaps a system like instant runoff voting will help bring political stability to motor city.

August 21st 2009
Black candidate for Euclid school board to test new voting system
Cleveland Plain Dealer

Limited voting, a form of proportional voting, will be used in Euclid (OH), in the hopes of allowing better representation of minorities.

July 2nd 2009
Reforming Albany
New York Times

FairVote's Rob Richie responds in a letter to the editor making the case for proportional voting systems to bring substantive reform to New York's legislature.