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Kansas House bans ranked-choice voting for state and local elections
Summary
Senate Bill 6, prohibiting the use of ranked-choice voting methods by any Kansas government entity, passed the House 86–37 after a session of debate that raised local-control and voter-confidence arguments.
The Kansas House voted 86 to 37 to pass Senate Bill 6, which prohibits any government entity in the state from using ranked-choice voting (RCV) methods in elections. The statute applies across local and state jurisdictions, including school boards and municipalities.
Representative Proctor, the bill’s floor carrier and chair of the Elections Committee, said the measure is intended to preserve voter confidence by keeping the state’s basic voting method simple: the candidate with the most votes wins. Proctor argued RCV requires multi-round counting and complicated explanations that can confuse voters.
Opponents, including Representative Haskins and Representative McDonald, framed the bill as a state intrusion on local authority and a missed opportunity for election innovation. Haskins said RCV has been used successfully in about 50 U.S. cities and can increase turnout and encourage electoral experimentation. McDonald said he had constituent support for RCV and preferred to let local governments decide.
The House agreed to the prohibition; the final tally on the House floor was 86 in favor and 37 opposed. The bill now returns to the Senate for further steps in the legislative process.
What’s next: With House passage, SB 6 moves back to the Senate and may become law if enacted through the remaining legislative steps.
