Supporters Urge Legislature to Allow Boston and Bedford Voters to Adopt Ranked‑Choice Voting
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Summary
At a joint committee hearing, city councilors, civic groups and voter‑advocacy organizations urged a favorable report on home‑rule petitions (H.4262 for Boston, H.4916 for Bedford) to let local voters decide on ranked‑choice voting; the committee took no final vote and adjourned.
A joint committee of the Massachusetts Legislature on election laws heard more than a dozen supporters on the merits of letting Boston and Bedford voters decide whether to adopt ranked‑choice voting.
Witnesses including Boston City Council members and representatives of civic groups told the committee that the city petitions (filed as House Bill H.4262 for Boston and H.4916 for Bedford) would expand voter choice and help elect officials with broader support. "Ranked choice voting is a proven strategy that removes barriers for women to seek and win elected office," a representative of RepresentWomen told the committee, urging support for both home‑rule petitions.
Advocates framed the bills as local‑control measures rather than statewide mandates. Armani White, executive director of a community group appearing in the record as Reclaim (organization name in transcript), told chairs Keenan and Hunt that RCV "lets people vote their values and still have their vote count," and said the change could benefit neighborhoods such as Roxbury by rewarding candidates who build coalitions across constituencies.
Boston Teachers Union organizer Ayush Bhatre testified that RCV promotes "positive campaigning" and coalition building, and cited Maine and Alaska as examples where iterative tabulation has been administered. Dustin Cathcart, Massachusetts co‑leader for Veterans for All Voters, urged a favorable report and cited polling showing broad support for allowing municipalities to adopt ranked‑choice voting.
Sponsors and local elected officials described the local development process for Boston's petition. Boston City Councilor and sponsor Ruthie Luzhen said the council developed the petition through public hearings and working sessions with election officials, and noted that the council action was signed by Mayor Michelle Wu on May 21; Luzhen added that even if the Legislature approves the petition, "the proposal would still require approval by Boston voters through a binding referendum before taking effect."
Other organizations that testified in support included the Massachusetts Voter Education Network (MASVOTE), the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Our Revolution Massachusetts, and student and grassroots volunteers from Bedford. Bedford volunteers described town‑meeting support and urged the committee to allow that town's voters to decide H.4916 locally.
The hearing included repeated appeals that a local decision would increase turnout, reduce negative campaigning and produce winners with majority support. Councilor Ben Weber noted low turnout in some districts and said RCV "allows more voters to have an impact on an election." Council President (appearing remotely) referenced past ballot performance in Boston, saying voters had supported RCV in the statewide contest and urging the Legislature to let local voters confirm the change.
The committee did not take a roll‑call vote on either home‑rule petition during the session. After public testimony concluded, Chair Dan Hunt called for a motion to adjourn and the body recessed following a voice vote; no committee action on the petitions was recorded at the hearing.