A joint meeting of the Salem City Council Committee on Government Services and the Committee of the Whole voted unanimously on Jan. 15 to refer a Home Rule petition to the city solicitor that would ask the Massachusetts Legislature to amend the city charter to allow ranked choice voting in local elections.

Councilor Varela, who introduced the order, said the step is procedural: if the Legislature approves the Home Rule petition, the council would later finalize ballot language and voters in Salem would decide whether to adopt ranked choice voting. "We're the elected; we shouldn't be deciding how we vote," Varela said, describing the referral as the start of the drafting and review process.

The committee heard a presentation from Greg Dennis, policy director at Voter Choice Massachusetts, who described how ranked choice voting works in single-seat and multi-seat contests, including the elimination-and-transfer count in single-seat races and proportional surplus distribution in multi-seat races. Dennis said Salem's ImageCast precinct machines are compatible with ranked choice voting but the city would need to purchase a software package to run RCV tabulations; he estimated an initial software cost of about $12,000 and an annual licensing cost near $1,200. "There'll be a net savings from adopting this and eliminating preliminaries," Dennis said when questioned about costs.

Dr. Alexandra Pinera Shields, chair of the Board of Registrars, told the committee she supports ranked choice voting because it offers more choices, can boost turnout and reduces negative campaigning. "Having more choices is central to what people think about freedom," she said, urging the city to consider RCV as a way to strengthen democratic participation.

Committee members also discussed practical issues the solicitor and clerk will address during drafting, including when RCV would apply (the draft specifies RCV for single-seat offices when at least three candidates run and for multi-seat contests when candidates outnumber seats), thresholds for election (25% for three-seat contests, 20% for four-seat contests), elimination of preliminary elections and the need for voter education. City Solicitor Beth Renard said her office has already consulted outside counsel experienced in election law and raised no immediate legal "red flags." She said the solicitor's office would draft the Home Rule petition if referred.

Councilor Varela moved to refer the draft with a positive recommendation to the full council; Councilor King seconded. The committee took a roll-call vote and the motion passed 5–0. The referral sends the draft Home Rule petition to the full City Council; if the Legislature approves a Home Rule petition, the matter would return to the council and then to a voter ballot in Salem.

The committee adjourned after the vote. The city solicitor and clerk will proceed with drafting and additional review, and committee members and outside groups flagged voter education and recount mechanics as items for follow-up.