Pending Legislation and Ballot Measures 2004-2005
Since January 2003, Congress and more than twenty state legislatures
have considered legislation about fair election voting methods: instant
runoff voting (IRV) and full representation systems. Illinois passed
legislation to allow county boards to adopt full representation, and Berkeley (CA) voters backed IRV. Here is a state-by-state rundown. For
background on prior activity, see a review of legislation in 2001-2002and a report on how in March 2002 San Francisco adopted instant runoff
voting for city elections starting in November 2004. Also, see archived
legislation for 2003-2004.The Center for Voting and Democracy (CVD) will be tracking all new legislation over the coming months. Please check this site regularly to see what's happening in your state and around the country and let us know ([email protected]) if we have missed an important development. The National Conference of State Legislatures' Database of Election Reform Legislation has further information on electoral reform legislation.
Congress
Search the Library of Congress to track legislation.
House Joint Resolution 1
House Joint Resolution 1 is a bill introduced by Representative Donna Christensen of the Virgin Islands and would require that a constitutional amendment be created ensuring that the right of citizens of the United States to vote in the election for President and Vice President shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of residency in a territory or commonwealth of the United States. Introduced January 4, 2005.
States
Arkansas
Search the Arkansas General Assembly website to track legislation.
HB 1770 Provides instant runoff voting for active duty military personnel stationed overseas. Passed the house and is currently under review in the senate.
California
Search the California State Legislature website to track legislation.
SB596 Allows not only general law cities, but all counties, school
districts, and special districts to use IRV. Describes how to implement IRV, so that charter cities that want to use IRV won't be stymied by election officials that don't know how to implement it.
AB 369 Existing law requires that, as of January 1, 2006, all direct recording electronic voting systems include an accessible voter verified paper audit trail.
AB 868 This bill would require an elections official to count any absentee ballot returned by mail with a postmark of or before the date of the election.
SB 226 This bill would require a voter, in addition, to present proof of his or her identity and residency to a member of the precinct board before receiving a ballot. It would specify the documents that may be used for this purpose and would authorize any other form of identification that the Secretary of State determines to be appropriate. It would permit a voter who is unable to present proof of identity or residency to cast a provisional ballot.
Californians for Electoral Reform is a great source for electoral reform activities in California.
Connecticut
Search the Connecticut General Assembly website to track legislation.
H.B. No. 6617 The joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections shall conduct a study of elections statutes and, not later than January 1, 2006, shall submit a report to the General Assembly on its findings and recommendations.
Florida
Search the Florida Senate and House of Representatives websites to track legislation.
Hawaii
Search the Hawaii State Legislature website to track legislation.
HB 926 Requires central committee of party of person to be replaced to submit to governor three nominees to fill vacancy and governor appoints replacement from those nominees. Establishes notice requirements; provides that special election to fill house vacancy shall use instant runoff voting system; directs chief election officer to develop an instant runoff voting system.
HB 945 Provides for ranked choice voting in all state and county elections; establishes the process and procedures for counting votes and certifying election results using the ranked choice methodology.
SB 1174 Provides for ranked choice voting in all state and county elections; establishes the process and procedures for counting votes and certifying election results using the ranked choice methodology.
Illinois
Search the Illinois General Assembly website to track legislation.
HB 134 Requires ranked choice ballots for absentee ballots given to military personnel outside the United States.
Iowa
Search the Iowa General Assembly website to track legislation.
SCR 2 A concurrent resolution requesting the legislative council establish a committee to study IRV.
Maine
Search the Maine State Legislature website to track legislation.
LD 265 Allows for the "offices of President, Vice President, United States Senator, United States Representative to Congress, Governor, State Senator and State Representative" to be elected by IRV.
Maryland
Search the Maryland General Assembly website to track legislation.
Massachusetts
Search the Massachusetts State Legislature website to track legislation.
Michigan
Search the Michigan State Legislature website to track legislation.
SB 0006 Allows for election day registration.
Minnesota
Search the Minnesota State Legislature website to track legislation.
H.F. 975 Requires schools that accept public funding to create a list of students living on or near campus. The list must be sent to the county auditor. Allows students who live on or near campus to vote in elections and register on election day.
FairVote Minnesota regularly releases e-mail newsletters.
New Hampshire
Search the New Hampshire State Legislature website to track legislation.
HB 48 Establishes a committee to study voting ballot reform including the use of IRV.
New Jersey
Search the New Jersey State Legislature website to track legislation.
AJR 99 Creates a commission to study instant runoff voting.
New Mexico
Search the New Mexico State Legislature website to track legislation.
New York
Search the New York State Legislature website to track legislation.
Citizens for Instant Runoff Voting in New York State (NYSIRV): press release on its latest activities in New York.
Oregon
Search the Oregon State legislature to track legislation
HB 2638 Allows county or city to adopt instant runoff voting system for nomination or election of candidates to county or city office.
Texas
Search the Texas State Legislature website to track legislation.
SB 197 Allows for preferential voting to be used in the election of officers of schools boards and municipalities.
HB 1790 Allows for preferential voting in school board, municipal, or county commissioner
Vermont
Search the Vermont General Assembly website to track legislation.
Support for IRV is strong in Vermont.
S 48 Allows IRV to be used to elect statewide offices and for selecting representatives in the electoral college. The bill has the support of over 40 members of the senate.
Virginia
Search the Virginia General Assembly website to track legislation.
Washington
Search the Washington State Legislature website to track legislation.
HB 1447 Establishes a program to look at IRV for the election of non-partisan offices.
Washington state initiative for IRV launched: Instant Runoff Washingtonhas formed to collect signatures in 2004 for action in 2005.
Wisconsin
Search the Wisconsin State Legislature website to track legislation.