CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Senate passed three bills related to voting, including one that would ban ranked choice voting in West Virginia, during Tuesday’s floor session.
The ranked choice voting method, which currently is not in use in the state, is a system where voters rank their preferred candidates. If a candidate earns more than half of the initial votes, they are declared the winner.
However, if no one wins an initial majority, an instant runoff would occur. The candidate with the least votes is eliminated, and voters who picked that candidate as their top choice would have their votes bumped to their next preference. That repeats until one candidate achieves a majority.
Senate Bill 490 would ban this method of voting from future consideration in West Virginia.
Also passed on Tuesday, Senate Bill 486 would clarify the qualifications required for citizens to vote in West Virginia elections, specifically relating to residency, age, mental competency and felony convictions. The main focus of the bill is to assure a voter is a U.S. and state citizen.
Senate Bill 488 would clarify the definition of electioneering as the visible display or audible dissemination of information that advocates for or against any candidate or question on the ballot.
The legislation further clarifies the definition to include campaign paraphernalia and explicit endorsements of ballot measures. The bill allows exceptions, such as allowing educational materials that don’t directly advocate for or against a ballot question.
These three measures now head to the House of Delegates for consideration.
The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, March 5, at 11 a.m.
