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Boston council advances home-rule petition to put ranked-choice voting on a future ballot
Summary
Boston City Councilors voted Wednesday to advance a home‑rule petition to put ranked‑choice voting before Boston voters, sending an amended draft to the full council after extended hearings and technical changes to implementation and tabulation rules.
Boston City Councilors voted on Wednesday to advance a home-rule petition that would place a ranked-choice voting (RCV) question on a future municipal ballot, moving the measure from committee to the full council as a new draft after months of hearings and changes.
The proposal would let Boston voters decide whether to adopt RCV for mayor and district city council contests that have three or more candidates and for all at-large general elections; the law would take effect only if voters approve the ballot question and at least 365 days have passed.
Supporters said RCV would help voters express preferences without “wasting” a vote, encourage broader coalitions and deliver winners with majority support. Opponents cautioned that adding complexity now risks confusing voters and could overburden the elections office after operational problems in 2024.
The draft that advanced to the full council includes a series of technical amendments recommended by the committee on government operations. Among the notable changes: general-election ballots would allow voters to…
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