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Council votes to send ranked-choice voting home-rule petition to committee for drafting and review
Summary
Councilors agreed to move a request for a home-rule petition on ranked-choice voting to the government services committee and Committee of the Whole for further drafting and public discussion.
The Salem City Council voted to refer a request for a home-rule petition that would permit ranked-choice voting in local elections to the Government Services Committee, co-posted with the Committee of the Whole.
Councilor Varela introduced the order asking the city solicitor to prepare a home-rule petition to authorize submission to the Massachusetts Legislature. He said council should “steward” the conversation and leave the final decision to voters if the legislature approves the petition. Councilor Cohen and others urged the council to draft language that would allow the question to go to a public ballot if the legislature approves the petition.
Some councilors expressed skepticism about the legislature’s willingness to approve ranked-choice voting home-rule petitions, with Councilor Marcela saying recent petitions have not advanced at the state level. Councilor Stott and others argued that the council should not pre-judge the legislature and instead provide properly drafted language for review.
After discussion, Councilor Stott moved to send the matter to the Government Services Committee co-posted with the Committee of the Whole; the motion carried and the solicitor will be asked to draft possible petition language for committee consideration.
