| R 069 |
| 2023 -- S 0046 Enacted 01/31/2023 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL SENATE COMMISSION TO STUDY NON-PLURALITY VOTING METHODS AND RUNOFF ELECTIONS FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND GENERAL OFFICER PRIMARIES |
Introduced By: Senator Samuel D. Zurier |
| Date Introduced: January 30, 2023 |
| WHEREAS, Using non-plurality voting has the potential to expand the range of choices |
| available to voters and promote campaigns that are more positive and focused on issues; and |
| WHEREAS, The implementation of runoff elections would ensure that a winner of a |
| primary election won a majority of the votes in a given election, promoting majority support of a |
| candidate by the electorate; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created |
| consisting of seven (7) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more |
| than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of |
| whom shall be a representative of the Board of Elections, to be appointed by the President of the |
| Senate; one of whom shall be the Secretary of State, or designee; and two (2) of whom shall be |
| representatives from a board of canvassers or election officials of two (2) different cities or towns |
| in the state, to be appointed by the President of the Senate. |
| All members of the study commission shall be registered voters of this state at the time of |
| their selection and at all times while they remain on the commission. |
| The purpose of said commission shall be to study the potential application of non- |
| plurality voting on elections for General Assembly and General Officer candidates, including, but |
| not limited to; |
| • Analyzing the current voting system and the requirements for implementing non- |
| plurality voting and runoff elections, including public education, voting equipment and |
| technology, ballot designs, and costs; |
| • Determining the level of public support for non-plurality voting and runoff elections; |
| • Reviewing the experience of other states in conducting elections using non-plurality |
| voting and runoff elections; |
| • Providing recommended changes in the law to implement non-plurality voting and |
| runoff elections; and |
| • Providing recommendations on making all voting systems used in the state compatible |
| with non-plurality voting, including a review of the availability and costs of necessary voting |
| equipment; study any other alternatives to single-ballot plurality voting the commission considers |
| relevant or useful. |
| Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at |
| the call of the President of the Senate, who shall appoint a Chair of the commission. |
| Vacancies in the commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. |
| A quorum of the commission shall consist of a majority of its membership, and the |
| membership of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services. |
| All departments and agencies of the state, shall furnish such advice and information, |
| documentary or otherwise, to the commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable |
| by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. |
| The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide |
| suitable quarters for the commission; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the |
| President of the Senate on or before October 31, 2023, and the commission shall expire on |
| December 31, 2023. |
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| LC000942 |
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