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Bill

SF 639

Political subdivisions establishment or enforcement of ranked-choice voting prohibition

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Cal Bahr and 4 co-sponsors

Bill prohibits Minnesota cities and counties from using ranked-choice voting, centralizing election system authority at state level and reversing local RCV adoption.

Referred to Elections
#elections #government-local
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Bill Summary · SF 639

Legislative bill overview

SF 639 prohibits Minnesota political subdivisions (cities, counties, school districts, etc.) from establishing or enforcing ranked-choice voting (RCV) systems in their elections. The bill would prevent local governments from implementing this alternative voting method, which allows voters to rank candidates by preference rather than selecting just one.

Why is this important

Ranked-choice voting has gained momentum in some U.S. municipalities as a way to reduce spoiler effects and increase representativeness of election outcomes. Minnesota cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul have adopted RCV for municipal elections. This bill would eliminate that local authority, centralizing voting system decisions at the state level and potentially affecting how millions of Minnesota residents vote in local elections.

Potential points of contention

  • Local control vs. state mandate: The bill removes decision-making power from local governments and voters who may favor RCV, raising federalism questions about what level of government should control electoral systems
  • Implementation and costs: RCV requires specific voting equipment and ballot design; some jurisdictions have already invested in these systems, and rollback could waste resources
  • Electoral outcomes: RCV supporters argue it produces fairer results and increases candidate diversity; opponents contend it creates voter confusion and distorts outcomes, making this fundamentally a dispute about voting system efficacy

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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