A new bill introduced in the Illinois General Assembly aims to explore the possibility of implementing ranked-choice voting for state and local elections. House Bill 1786, sponsored by Representative Maura Hirschauer (D-49), proposes the creation of a Ranked-Choice Voting in State and Local Elections Task Force.

Key Points of the Bill

Task Force Objectives:
The proposed task force would be responsible for:

1. Engaging with election officials, interest groups, and the public to assess the adoption of ranked-choice voting
2. Reviewing standards for certifying voting systems
3. Evaluating the current voting system’s ability to accommodate alternative voting methods
4. Making recommendations for changes to the Election Code and administrative rules

Timeline and Reporting:

• The task force would be required to publish a final report of its findings and recommendations by June 30, 2027
• The report must include a realistic timeline for implementing ranked-choice voting, considering factors such as upgrading election systems, conducting public education, and enacting necessary legislation

Composition:
The task force would consist of 20 members:

• 16 members appointed equally by legislative leaders (Senate President, House Speaker, and Minority Leaders)
• 4 members appointed by the Governor, including at least 2 with election administration experience

Implementation Target:
The bill sets an ambitious goal of potentially implementing ranked-choice voting beginning with the 2029 consolidated election.

A Similar Bill

Another bill, HB1708, sponsored by Representative Kam Buckner (D-26), proposes several key changes to the state’s election procedures:

Local Elections
The bill would allow municipalities to adopt RCV for local elections:

• Municipal governing bodies could require ranked ballots for municipal and township offices in consolidated elections and primaries.
• This option would be available upon confirmation from the local election authority that they can administer such an election.
• Municipalities could also allow any qualified voter to use a ranked ballot for local elections, not just overseas or military voters as currently permitted.

State and Federal Primaries
HB1708 goes further by authorizing the State Board of Elections to mandate RCV for all state, local, and federal primary elections, with the exception of presidential primaries. Key provisions include:

• All qualified voters could participate in primaries regardless of party affiliation.
• Candidates from all parties would appear on a single primary ballot.
• The top two candidates, regardless of party, would advance to the general election.

Implementation Details
The bill outlines several important aspects of implementing RCV:

• Ballots must be designed to be simple and easy to understand.
• Voters would be allowed to rank up to five candidates in order of preference.
• The State Board of Elections would be required to conduct a voter education campaign on the new system.

Timeline
If passed, the bill would take effect on January 1, 2026, giving election authorities time to prepare for the new voting method.

What is Ranked Choice Voting

Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is an electoral system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, rather than selecting just one candidate. Here’s how it works:

Key Features of Ranked Choice Voting

1. Ranking Candidates: Voters rank candidates as their 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice, and so on.
2. Vote Counting Process:
   • All first-choice votes are tallied initially.
   • If no candidate receives a majority (over 50%) of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated.
   • Voters who ranked the eliminated candidate as their first choice have their votes redistributed to their second choice.
   • This process continues until a candidate achieves a majority.

Benefits of Ranked Choice Voting

• Majority Support: Ensures the winning candidate has broad support from voters.
• Eliminates “Spoiler Effect”: Voters can support their preferred candidate without fear of helping elect their least preferred option.
• Reduced Negative Campaigning: May encourage more positive campaigning as candidates seek to be voters’ second or third choices.
• Single Election: Eliminates the need for separate runoff elections.

In a presidential election, ranked choice voting (RCV) would not supersede the Electoral College system. The process would unfold as follows:

1. Voters in states using RCV would rank their preferred presidential candidates.
2. The RCV tallying process would determine the winner of that state’s popular vote.
3. The state’s electors would then cast their votes for the candidate who won the state’s RCV process.

This means that while RCV could change how a state determines its winner, it wouldn’t alter the fundamental structure of the Electoral College. The Electoral College would still function as the ultimate mechanism for selecting the president, with each state’s electors voting based on their state’s results. As of January 2025, only Maine and Alaska use RCV for presidential elections. 

What States Use Ranked Choice Voting (and How)

As of January 2025, ranked choice voting (RCV) is used in various forms across several states in the United States:

1. Maine: Uses RCV for federal congressional elections and presidential primaries.
2. Alaska: Employs RCV for all state, federal, and presidential elections (except presidential primaries). In 2024, Alaskans narrowly voted to keep the RCV system in place.
3. Hawaii: Utilizes RCV for special elections of federal and county council offices since 2023.
4. District of Columbia: Will implement RCV for all elections starting in 2025.

Additionally, RCV is used in numerous cities and local jurisdictions across the country:

• 45 U.S. cities use RCV for local elections, including Salt Lake City and Seattle.
• RCV is used in various forms in 62 jurisdictions across 24 states, including for party-run primaries, special elections, and RCV ballots for military and overseas voters.

As of November 2024, RCV is banned in eleven states, including Tennessee, Florida, Idaho, South Dakota, Montana, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Missouri.