Bill on Ranked Choice Voting Gets Public Hearing

Thursday, December 14th, 2023 -- 9:01 AM

(AP) A bipartisan bill that would dramatically change how Wisconsin residents choose congressional candidates by asking them to rank their top choices instead of voting for one of two candidates had its first public hearing in the state Legislature on Tuesday.

The hearing comes just a week after opponents circulated a proposed constitutional amendment to ban ranked choice voting. It’s unclear whether either measure has enough support to pass, but the movement shows the idea is gaining attention in the battleground state. The bill before the state Senate’s elections committee on Tuesday would implement a ranked choice voting system known as final five.

Under the system, all candidates for a U.S. House or Senate seat would appear together on a primary ballot regardless of their party, with the top five finishers advancing to the general election. Right now, Republicans and Democrats run on separate ballots in partisan primaries.

Voters in the general election would then rank the five primary winners in order of preference. If a candidate receives a majority of first-place votes, they win. If no one gets a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and anyone who had that person as their first choice instead has their vote go to their second ranked choice.

The process continues until one candidate has a majority of votes. Currently, candidates can win a seat without a majority. A bipartisan group of 21 lawmakers has signed onto the bill as co-sponsors.

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