Ranked-choice voting concept cleared for drafting after roll-call; opponents say it risks disenfranchising voters

The Government Administration and Elections Committee moved to raise a concept bill that would let municipalities use ranked-choice voting for chief elected officials, and the motion was decided by recorded roll call.

The motion to raise Item 6 was made by Senator Honig and seconded by Representative Menapace. Representative Master Francesco opposed raising the concept, saying he believes ranked-choice voting "disenfranchises voters" and that he did not want to hear the bill again. The clerk conducted a roll-call; several members voted in favor and several opposed. The chair said she would keep the roll call open to allow remote members to register their votes because of weather concerns.

Representative Master Francesco said, "I really think this bill disenfranchises voters... I don't even have an interest in hearing it again or actually wanna see it raised," explaining his "no" vote. Senator Sampson was recorded among the "no" votes during the roll-call that followed the discussion.

The committee advanced the concept to drafting and public hearing despite partisan differences on the merits; raising the concept does not bind members to a final vote on the bill once language is drafted and publicly considered.