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Lawmakers hear broad support for local option to let Massachusetts towns use ranked‑choice voting
Summary
Municipal leaders, election officials and voting advocates told a joint committee that a local‑option bill (S531) plus existing home‑rule petitions would expand ranked‑choice voting (RCV) across Massachusetts, citing higher turnout, lower costs by eliminating preliminary elections, and manageable technical implementation.
A joint House‑Senate committee on election laws heard hours of testimony Tuesday from municipal officials, election administrators and civic groups urging lawmakers to approve a local‑option bill, S531, that would let cities and towns adopt ranked‑choice voting without a separate home‑rule petition.
Supporters told the committee S531 would remove procedural barriers that have prevented municipalities from implementing RCV after local votes and charter changes. "These are local elections," Senator Rebecca Rausch said. "We are standing in the way of towns and cities implementing the will of their voters." The senator told the committee S531 is an opt‑in, local choice with no effect on state or federal contests.
Advocates including the…
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