Charter panel sends ranked-choice voting proposal and study commission to Stow City Council

The Stow City Charter Review Commission voted to forward two items to Stow City Council: a proposed charter amendment to use ranked‑choice voting for the mayor, law director, finance director and ward councilmembers and a separate ordinance creating a seven‑member commission to study implementation and public education.

The measures would, if the council adopts them and voters approve the charter change, schedule the first ranked‑choice municipal election in 2029. Staff reading the draft ordinance defined the method in the meeting: "Ranked choice voting is a method of casting and counting votes in which voters rank candidates in order of preference, and votes are counted in rounds," the presenter said while reading the draft language to the commission.

The draft specifies instant‑runoff counting for single‑winner contests (mayor, law director, finance director, ward seats) and single transferable vote rules for at‑large seats. The ordinance text read at the meeting sets 2029 as the first general municipal election to use ranked‑choice voting to allow time for public education and for election authorities to prepare. The draft also includes a fallback creating a Stow Commission on Ranked Choice Voting, a seven‑member panel with at least one member from each ward, quorum set at four members, and a directive that the commission provide recommendations and draft charter language before Jan. 1, 2027.

Commissioners debated two linked questions: whether to try to place ranked‑choice voting on the ballot directly and whether to establish the study commission. Some commissioners said residents are not yet sufficiently informed to approve a complex election change and favored the commission and a public education process; others argued for moving the change to council so voters can decide. Commissioners also discussed the technical readiness of Summit County election equipment and procedures; staff said the county's current machines appear capable of handling ranked‑choice voting but acknowledged final readiness would be a county responsibility and could affect timing.

The charter language read to the commission directs that, "notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the mayor, law director, finance director, and members of the council shall be elected by ranked choice voting" beginning in 2029 if voters approve the amendment. Commission members repeatedly noted that if council declines the charter amendment, the commission ordinance would provide a path for study and public outreach.

The panel voted to forward both the ranked‑choice voting charter amendment and the ordinance establishing the commission to Stow City Council. The items will next be considered by council, which would determine whether to place the amendment on a ballot for voter approval.