Panel approves discussion of ranked‑choice pilot for Charter Review Commission elections

The Whatcom County Charter Review Commission approved placing on a future agenda a proposed pilot project to use ranked‑choice voting (RCV) for elections to the Charter Review Commission itself.

Sponsors said the pilot would allow the commission — a small, self-selecting body that the public elects every ten years — to test ranked‑choice procedures on a limited scale before any wider changes to county electoral systems. Proponents framed the approach as a contained trial that could provide data without committing the county to an immediate, permanent switch.

Opponents and some commissioners asked about costs, training, and whether the county auditor would incur one‑time software or training expenses. The county auditor’s staff noted that adopting RCV could require upgrades and training but that a single‑election pilot’s costs would be manageable; one commissioner observed that the existing fielded ballots already choose among multiple candidates and suggested the change may be less disruptive than it appears.

After brief discussion commissioners voted to place the RCV pilot proposal on a future meeting agenda for fuller consideration. The roll call vote to add the item to a future meeting passed.

If commissioners later choose to advance the pilot as a charter amendment, the proposal would require counsel and auditor review and a ballot title and fiscal note before being placed before voters.