Senate committee hears testimony on ranked-choice study and multiple election-law changes

Senate Committee on Government Operations members heard nearly two hours of testimony April 9 on a House bill (page 474) that would require studies and technical changes to Vermont election law, including a report on whether ranked‑choice voting should be used in the presidential primary and several changes tied to audits, ballot handling and campaign‑finance reporting.

Supporters and longtime election integrity volunteers testified that a study could help Vermont address logistical questions and reduce what they described as “wasted” votes when candidates drop out before the primary. At the same time witnesses raised security and statutory concerns about audits, ballot counting procedures and several draft changes in the bill.

Chris Saxman, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates who described his work on nomination methods in Virginia, urged the committee to study ranked‑choice voting. “That’s why I think ranked choice voting is a tool in the toolbox. It’s not for every occasion, but it can be very useful when you need it to,” Saxman said, characterizing the system as able to change candidate behavior and, in his account of Virginia’s experience, reduce negative campaigning.

Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), said his organization supports the bill’s request for a ranked‑choice voting report…