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Ranked choice ban draws wide public debate; elections officials warn of technical hurdles
Summary
Senate Bill 63, which would ban or restrict ranked choice voting (RCV) in Ohio and penalize localities that adopt it, generated broad public testimony both for and against. County election officials cautioned that existing certified voting systems and Ohio law would make implementing RCV without a substantial equipment and software upgrade
The committee’s third hearing on Senate Bill 63 — legislation that would prohibit or restrict ranked choice voting (RCV) in Ohio — drew dozens of proponents and opponents, a long panel of municipal leaders and election experts, and sharp disagreement over technical feasibility and local control.
Anthony Perlotti, director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, testified that the county is neutral on whether RCV should be adopted but raised technical and statutory concerns about conducting ranked elections with Ohio’s currently certified voting systems. “To the best of my knowledge, none of the five voting systems currently certified in Ohio are able to execute a ranked choice voting election,” Perlotti said, adding that counties would…
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