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Residents and council members debate ranked‑choice voting; council hears a proposal to support state enabling bill
Summary
A resident reviewed international history and urged Franklin Township to back state legislation that would let municipalities adopt ranked‑choice voting by referendum; council members expressed mixed but largely favorable views while noting implementation questions and potential patchwork adoption across municipalities.
Alex Clark of 396 Hamilton Street addressed the council in support of ranked‑choice voting (RCV), citing Australia’s experience to argue RCV reduces vote splitting and encourages majority support. “RCV does not have a partisan bias,” Clark said, and urged the council to consider a resolution supporting state bill S1622/A4042, which would enable municipalities to adopt rank‑choice voting if voters approve it by referendum.
Council members discussed the idea in general terms. Mayor Kramer said he has “become a fan” and other council members echoed cautious interest; several raised practical concerns about implementation, voter familiarity and whether the question should be handled via a broader state or town‑level discussion. One councilmember recommended a town hall to educate residents about options and the practical consequences of local adoption.
Why it matters: Clark framed RCV as a way to produce winners with majority support and to reduce vote splitting in crowded primaries. Councilmembers agreed the topic merits further study and public outreach before any formal local action. The town manager noted that the state bill, as drafted, would enable but not mandate municipal adoption and would require local voter approval where used.
What happens next: No council vote was taken on Dec. 9. Council members suggested further discussion, possible town‑hall engagement and review of administrative implications before deciding whether to sponsor a support resolution or local referendum.
