H4262
An Act to implement ranked choice voting in Boston
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- Passed House
- Passed Senate
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- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill would establish ranked choice voting (RCV) in Boston. RCV allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, rather than choosing just one. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the voters’ second choice. This process continues until a candidate secures a majority.
Key provisions
- Allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference.
- Establishes a system for redistributing votes when a candidate doesn't receive a majority.
- Applies to elections for Boston city officials.
- Requires the Boston Election Commission to implement the new system.
- Defines procedures for counting and reporting RCV results.
Who is affected
- Voters in Boston
- Boston City Officials
- The Boston Election Commission
Notable changes
- Replaces the traditional plurality voting system with ranked choice voting.
- Potentially increases voter choice and representation.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Samantha Montaño
Cosponsor
Samantha Montaño
Arguments in favor
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Bill H.4262 194th (Current)
An Act to implement ranked choice voting in Boston
By Representative Montaño of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4262) of Samantha Montaño (with the approval of the mayor and city council) relative to ranked choice voting in the city of Boston. Election Laws. [Local Approval Received.]
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Presenter: Samantha Montaño Status: Referred to Joint Committee on Election Laws City/Town: Boston (Local Approval Received)
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Bill History Petitioners Hearing Attendance
Bill History
Displaying 3 actions for Bill H.4262
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 7/10/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Election Laws |
| 1/15/2026 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 1/29/2026 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 02/10/2026 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-1 |
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