About the 2024 Ranked Choice Voting Legislation

In the 2024 session, Senator Kelly Morrison and Representative Cedrick Frazier introduced legislation, called the Local Voices, Local Choices Act, that would authorize local jurisdictions to adopt RCV if they wish and set Minnesota on a path to use RCV in future state and federal elections. See our Frequently Asked Questions page for details about the legislation, background on RCV, and bill updates. For questions, contact Executive Director Jeanne Massey at jeanne.massey@fairvotemn.org.

About Ranked Choice Voting

Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) — also known as Instant Runoff Voting — is a simple change to the ballot that empowers voters to rank candidates in order of preference and ensures candidates earn majority support to win. It gives voters greater voice, choice and power, and fosters a more inclusive, civil, representative, and responsive democracy. RCV is one of the most important and viable changes we can make to combat rising political extremism and division. The time is now to pass RCV legislation to protect and advance our democracy.

RCV is a powerful but simple change to the way we vote. On the ballot, voters rank candidates in order of preference, marking a first choice, second choice, third choice, etc. If one candidate receives a majority (50% + 1) of first-choice votes, that candidate wins. If not, there is an instant runoff. The candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is defeated, and these ballots now are redistributed to those voters’ second choices. This process continues until one candidate reaches a majority of remaining ballots and wins.

About FairVote Minnesota

Founded in 1998, FairVote Minnesota is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works for a stronger democracy through public education and advocacy for electoral reform. We support democracy reforms that promote greater participation, majority rule, and proportional representation. We specifically advocate for Ranked Choice Voting, a system proven to be more inclusive, democratic, and representative than our current plurality electoral system. We lobby for the expansion of RCV at the State Capitol, support local campaigns to adopt RCV, and run extensive voter education campaigns in jurisdictions that have already made the change to RCV. Learn more about RCV and the experience of RCV in Minnesota cities. 

Media Contact

For press inquiries or to join our mailing list, please contact Executive Director Jeanne Massey (jeanne.massey@fairvotemn.org).

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