Portland City Council adopts proportional ranked choice voting amendment for upcoming elections

The City of Portland held a Special City Council meeting on April 28, 2025, focusing on key updates and legislative amendments. The meeting began with discussions led by council members regarding ongoing issues in Health and Human Services, emphasizing the need for regular updates from the chief. Councilor Peralta expressed concerns about potential enforcement of jaywalking laws, highlighting the infrastructural challenges that contribute to pedestrian safety issues. Despite these concerns, he indicated his support for funding measures, stating he would vote in favor.

The council then moved on to a significant legislative item, Order 16724-25, which pertains to an amendment of the Portland City Code regarding proportional ranked choice voting. City Clerk Ashley Brand presented this as a second reading, clarifying that the amendment does not alter the existing ranked choice voting system used for mayoral and city council elections. Instead, it introduces proportional ranked choice voting for elections involving multiple seats, such as the upcoming election for two at-large school board positions.

The amendment stems from a charter question approved in November 2022, mandating the adoption of proportional ranked choice voting. The council modeled this amendment after successful implementations in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Westbrook, Maine. Extensive collaboration with various election partners, including the League of Women Voters and the Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center, informed the drafting of the updated ordinance, which aims to enhance the voting process through a fractional transfer vote system.

The council proceeded to a roll call vote on the funding measure, with all members voting in favor, indicating strong support for the proposed changes and initiatives. The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue addressing the discussed issues and implementing the new voting procedures in future elections.