Bill 119 hr 2561, also known as the Ranked Choice Voting Prohibition Act, aims to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prevent states from utilizing ranked choice voting in federal elections. Ranked choice voting is a system where voters rank candidates in order of preference, and if no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are redistributed based on the voters' second choices.
The bill seeks to prohibit states from implementing this voting method for federal offices, arguing that it could potentially complicate the election process and lead to confusion among voters. Proponents of the bill believe that ranked choice voting may not accurately reflect the will of the voters and could undermine the integrity of the election results.
If passed, the Ranked Choice Voting Prohibition Act would require states to use traditional voting methods, such as plurality voting, for federal elections. This bill has sparked debate among lawmakers and voting rights advocates, with some arguing that ranked choice voting promotes greater voter engagement and representation, while others express concerns about its potential drawbacks.
Overall, the bill aims to establish consistency and clarity in the election process for federal offices by prohibiting the use of ranked choice voting. It is currently under consideration in the House of Representatives and may undergo further revisions before potentially becoming law.