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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4437 FILED ON: 6/29/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3974
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Danillo A. Sena and Simon Cataldo
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to ranked choice voting in the town of Acton.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Danillo A. Sena37th Middlesex6/29/2023Simon Cataldo14th Middlesex6/29/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4437 FILED ON: 6/29/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3974
By Representatives Sena of Acton and Cataldo of Concord, a petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 3974) of Danillo A. Sena and Simon Cataldo (by vote of the town) relative to ranked
choice voting in the town of Acton. Election Laws. [Local Approval Received.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to ranked choice voting in the town of Acton.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. RANKED CHOICE VOTING
2 (a) All offices elected at the annual town election or town special election shall be elected
3by ranked choice voting, except for a single-seat office when the number of certified candidates
4is less than or equal to 2 or a multi-seat office when the number of certified candidates is less
5than or equal to the number of seats to be elected. Ranked choice voting elections shall be
6tabulated in rounds pursuant to this section.
7 (b) In any single-seat election, each round shall begin by counting the number of votes
8for each continuing candidate. Each ballot shall count as 1 vote for its highest-ranked continuing
9candidate. Concluded ballots shall not be counted for any continuing candidate. Each round shall
10end with 1 of the following 2 outcomes: 2 of 3
11 (1) If there are more than 2 continuing candidates, the last-place candidate shall be
12defeated or the last-place candidates shall be defeated in batch elimination, and a new round shall
13begin; or
14 (2) If there are 2 continuing candidates, the candidate with the fewest votes shall be
15defeated, the candidate with the most votes shall be elected, and tabulation shall be complete.
16 (c) In any multi-seat election, each round shall begin by counting the number of votes for
17each continuing candidate. Each ballot shall count, at its current transfer value, for its highest-
18ranked continuing candidate. Concluded ballots shall not count for any continuing candidate. In
19the first round only, the election threshold shall then be calculated. Each round shall end with 1
20of the following 3 outcomes:
21 (1) If at least 1 continuing candidate has more votes than the election threshold, then all
22such candidates shall be elected. Each ballot counting for an elected candidate shall be assigned a
23new transfer value by multiplying the ballot’s current transfer value by the surplus fraction for
24the candidate. Each elected candidate shall be deemed to have a number of votes equal to the
25election threshold in all future rounds, and a new round shall begin;
26 (2) If no continuing candidate has more votes than the election threshold and the sum of
27the number of elected candidates and continuing candidates is more than the sum of the number
28of seats to be elected and 1, the last-place candidate shall be defeated or the last-place candidates
29shall be defeated in batch elimination, and a new round shall begin; or
30 (3) Otherwise, the continuing candidate with fewest votes shall be defeated, all other
31continuing candidates shall be elected, and tabulation is complete. 3 of 3
32 (d) Batch elimination shall apply to the largest possible group of continuing candidates
33such that the sum of the votes of candidates in the group is less than the individual number of
34votes of every continuing candidate not in the group, and provided that the number of continuing
35candidates not in the group is at least 1 more than the remaining number of positions to elect.
36 (e) If 2 or more last-place candidates are tied and batch elimination does not apply, the
37candidate with the fewest votes in the prior round shall be defeated. If 2 or more such tied
38candidates were tied in the prior round, the second tie shall be decided by referring similarly to
39the standing of the candidates, in terms of votes, in the second-prior round. This process shall be
40applied successively as many times as necessary, a tie shown in any prior round shall be decided
41by referring to the standing of the candidates in the round immediately preceding the tie.
42 (f) The Select Board, in consultation with the Town Clerk, may make any changes to the
43ranked choice voting ballot and tabulation process necessary to ensure the integrity and smooth
44functioning of the election, provided that ranked choice voting shall still be used and the fewest
45number of changes are made to achieve such purpose.
46 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. The first election using Ranked
47Choice Voting shall take place no sooner than 2025.