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Panel hears sharply divided testimony on SB 63 ban of ranked‑choice voting; election directors warn of equipment and certification gaps
Summary
Senate Bill 63, which would ban or penalize local use of ranked‑choice voting, drew divided testimony. Election officials warned of equipment and legal hurdles; proponents said RCV increases turnout and reduces polarization and urged respect for home rule.
The Senate General Government Committee held a lengthy third hearing on Senate Bill 63, a measure that would prohibit ranked‑choice voting (RCV) in Ohio's local, state and federal elections and impose penalties on jurisdictions that adopt it. Testimony split sharply: county election officials and national groups warned of implementation challenges, while local officials, voting‑rights advocates and out‑of‑state administrators described RCV as a proven reform that increases voter choice and reduces polarization.
Anthony Perlotti, director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, told the committee that current certified voting systems in Ohio lack an off‑the‑shelf capability to run mixed ballots with ranked and non‑ranked contests. "To…
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