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9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This joint resolution highlights the success of the Municipal Ranked-Choice Voting
12 Pilot Program.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 ▸ commends the 23 municipalities, as well as the county election officials, for
16 successfully conducting the 2021 municipal elections using instant runoff voting;
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18 ▸ encourages other municipalities to adopt instant runoff voting for municipal
19 elections.
20 Special Clauses:
21 None
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23 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 WHEREAS, the Legislature enacted 2018 General Session H.B. 35, "Municipal
25 Alternate Voting Methods Pilot Project," which created a pilot program allowing
26 municipalities to conduct nonpartisan races using instant runoff voting during any
27 odd-numbered year the pilot program is in effect;
28 WHEREAS, the towns of Payson and Vineyard were the first to opt to participate in the
29 pilot program and conducted their 2019 elections for city council using instant runoff voting;
30 WHEREAS, Payson and Vineyard elected council members by a majority vote using
31 instant runoff voting without the need for an August primary election;
32 WHEREAS, 21 additional municipalities opted to participate in the pilot program and
33 conducted their 2021 elections using instant runoff voting;
34 WHEREAS, post-election polling of Utah voters found that 81% of respondents
35 reported finding instant runoff voting "very easy" or "somewhat easy" to use;
36 WHEREAS, post-election polling of Utah voters found that 90% of respondents said
37 the instructions on their ballots were somewhat or very clear, with over 6 in 10 respondents
38 saying they were "very clear";
39 WHEREAS, post-election polling of Utah voters found that 62% of respondents who
40 participated in the ranked choice voting elections said they liked using a Ranked Choice Voting
41 ballot;
42 WHEREAS, post-election polling of Utah voters found that 60% of respondents
43 reported they were much more likely to vote for their favorite candidate when using a Ranked
44 Choice Voting ballot;
45 WHEREAS, post-election polling of Utah voters, including respondents who
46 participated in ranked choice voting and respondents who participated in non-ranked choice
47 voting, found that 85% of respondents said it is important that a candidate win a majority of
48 votes in an election; and
49 WHEREAS, post-election polling of Utah voters, including respondents who
50 participated in ranked choice voting and respondents who participated in non-ranked choice
51 voting, found that respondents are interested in seeing ranked choice voting employed more
52 often in Utah elections:
53 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
54 commends the 23 municipalities, as well as the county election officials, for successfully
55 conducting the 2021 municipal elections using instant runoff voting.
56 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages other municipalities to
57 adopt instant runoff voting for municipal elections so that they, too, may elect municipal
58 officers without the need for an August primary election.