[Ord. No. 2020-07, 11-3-2020]
This § 7-3 establishes the procedures for electing candidates in single-seat and multi-seat elections using Ranked Choice Voting.
[Ord. No. 2020-07, 11-3-2020]
In an election conducted by Ranked Choice Voting, the City Clerk shall provide ballot instructions that make clear the proper voting procedures for voting in a Ranked Choice Voting election.
[Ord. No. 2020-07, 11-3-2020]
Each ballot's vote is initially assigned to the highest-ranked candidate on that ballot at a transfer value of one.
[Ord. No. 2020-07, 11-3-2020]
If the number of candidates is equal to or less than the seats to be filled, each candidate is declared elected. The number of votes for each candidate is counted and tabulation is complete. Otherwise tabulation proceeds in accord with Subsection 7-3.5 for a single-seat election or Subsection 7-3.6 for a multi-seat election.
[Ord. No. 2020-07, 11-3-2020; amended 10-16-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-05]
a. 
Vote tabulation proceeds in rounds as follows:
1. 
Each ballot is counted for the highest-ranked continuing candidate on that ballot. If there are only two continuing candidates, the candidate with more votes is designated elected, the other candidate is designated defeated, and tabulation is complete. If there is only one continuing candidate, they are designated elected, and tabulation is complete. Otherwise, tabulation proceeds pursuant to subparagraph 2 immediately below.
2. 
The candidate with the fewest votes is designated defeated. If two or more candidates are tied with the fewest number of votes, the candidate to be defeated shall be determined by lot. A new round of tabulation starts again pursuant to subparagraph 1 immediately above.
[Ord. No. 2020-07, 11-3-2020; amended 10-16-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-05]
a. 
Vote tabulation proceeds in rounds as follows:
1. 
Each ballot is counted, at its current transfer value, for the highest ranked continuing candidate on that ballot. If there is at least one candidate with more votes than the election threshold, each candidate with more votes than the election threshold is designated as elected. If a candidate who has been designated as elected has surplus fraction greater than zero, the tabulation proceeds pursuant to subparagraph 2 immediately below. Otherwise, the tabulation proceeds pursuant to subparagraph 3 below.
2. 
Of the candidate or candidates who have been designated as elected, the candidate with the greatest number of votes (with any tie decided by lot) is deemed to have a number of votes equal to the election threshold. Each ballot counted for that candidate is assigned a new transfer value, by multiplying the ballot's current transfer value by the surplus fraction for the elected candidate, rounded down to four decimal places. Tabulation continues pursuant to subparagraph 1 above.
3. 
If the total number of elected and continuing candidates is equal to the number of seats to be filled plus one, the continuing candidate with the fewest votes is designated defeated, any remaining continuing candidates are designated as elected, and the tabulation is complete. If the total number of elected and continuing candidates is equal to or less than the number of seats to be filled, the continuing candidate(s) are declared elected, and tabulation is complete. Otherwise, the continuing candidate with the fewest votes is designated defeated, and a new round of tabulation begins pursuant to subparagraph 1 above.