Salem committee backs amended home‑rule petition to advance ranked‑choice voting

The Committee of the Whole in Salem voted June 4 to send an amended home‑rule petition on ranked‑choice voting to the full City Council with a positive recommendation.

Councilors and counsel spent the meeting focused on two substantive edits in a KP Law draft: when ranked‑choice voting would “kick in” for multi‑seat races and whether multi‑seat contests would use a proportional tabulation or a sequential method. Councilor Lydia King told the committee the draft’s new trigger “would not be used until there are more than twice the number of candidates for the seats available,” a change she warned “kinda defeats the true spirit and purpose of the original legislation we proposed.” King proposed language to restore a lower threshold and to use proportional tabulation for multi‑seat elections.

Special legal counsel Beth Renard said KP Law’s draft aimed to simplify implementation language and noted the firm drew on models used elsewhere; she also told the committee the ballot question could be submitted at a regular biennial election occurring on or after 11/02/2027. Councilors cautioned that even if the petition advances, the earliest practical use of a new voting system could be several years later — Councilor King said 2029 is a likely earliest operational date under the normal election calendar — and urged a substantial voter‑education effort before implementation.

Members of the Board of Registrars and local experts urged proportional tabulation for multi‑seat contests. Councilor Sidorjak said proportional systems avoid a scenario in which coordinated coalitions could ‘lock out’ seats, and Board member Dr. Penera Shields cited Minnesota’s experience and turnout statistics as part of the case for proportional methods. Ed Shoemaker of Voter Choice Massachusetts told the committee that pending home‑rule petitions and municipal practice in the state generally favor proportional approaches.

Public comment was strongly in favor of advancing the petition. Zoom and in‑room commenters — including organizing groups and residents — urged the council to send the petition on to Beacon Hill and emphasized local plans for voter education. Jeremy Mili, a Zoom participant, said ranked‑choice voting “ameliorates the situation by allowing voters to come to an instant reasonable compromise.”

After public comment, Councilor King moved to adopt the demonstrated edits (striking and replacing the multi‑seat language, restoring proportional tabulation, and making minor section‑reference corrections); Councilor Varela seconded. The chair called for a show of hands and said the motion carried. The committee then voted to return the petition to the full council with a positive recommendation, as amended. The committee adjourned.

The council will next consider the committee’s recommendation; if it votes to advance the home‑rule petition, the item would be sent to the state legislature and, if the legislature acts favorably, back to Salem voters for final acceptance.