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Committee discusses ranked‑choice voting ordinance; clerk estimates $14,000 start‑up cost
Summary
The assembly’s Committee of the Whole discussed a draft ordinance to permit ranked‑choice voting in local elections, including choices for handling multi‑member seats, an estimated $14,000 initial software cost and outstanding questions for the school board.
The Committee of the Whole discussed a draft ordinance to adopt ranked‑choice voting for the City and Borough of Juneau election code but did not take final action. Members asked clerks and staff about implementation costs, timing and how multi‑member seats (block voting) would be handled.
Clerk’s office staff told the committee the software module needed to run ranked‑choice tabulation would cost roughly $14,000 up front, with about $12,000 as an annual ongoing expense. The clerk said that under vote‑by‑mail, results would likely be available within about a week after ballots are returned but that the timing could delay reporting on election night; the clerk estimated the first realistic effective date would be the next October election if the ordinance proceeds this year.
Key policy choices remain unresolved, including how to treat multi‑member contests (options discussed included designating individual seats so voters select one candidate per seat; a single‑vote transfer method that requires candidates to reach a quota; or a cascade method that repeatedly runs a single‑seat RCV count). Staff reported that Dominion Voting’s software module supports a single‑vote‑transfer method for multi‑member seats; it was unclear whether the cascade approach would be available under CBJ’s existing vendor configuration.
Several members asked staff to solicit the Juneau School Board’s preference; staff said contact attempts had produced a request from the school board president to be invited to a conversation but no formal position yet. Human Resources Committee Chair Miss Atkinson (who presented background from the committee) and other members agreed to return the matter to a future Committee of the Whole for further review after clarifying multi‑member treatment and timing.
No motions were made in committee to change the ordinance at this hearing; staff will pursue clarifying information on software capabilities, the school board’s preferences and the likely impact on ballot timing and cost before the matter returns for further consideration.
