Senate Bill 386, which would allow Connecticut municipalities to adopt Ranked Choice Voting for local elections and party primaries, advanced out of the Government Administration and Elections Committee, as a bipartisan group of municipal leaders called on state lawmakers to approve the measure.
The legislation would not require statewide adoption. Instead, it would permit cities and towns to implement Ranked Choice Voting on a voluntary basis, a structure supporters say preserves local control while offering an option to address declining voter participation.
In a joint letter to Governor Ned Lamont and legislative leaders, officials from Stamford, Norwalk, Norwich, Bridgeport, Hartford and other municipalities described the proposal as a limited reform. “This is a practical, incremental reform that respects local control,” the municipal leaders wrote. “It gives communities the freedom to strengthen democratic participation in ways that best reflect their residents’ needs.”
The letter cites turnout declines in recent municipal elections. Bridgeport recorded 19.98% turnout in 2023, down from 21.98% in 2019. Hartford fell to 13.74%, down from 18.14%, according to the coalition. Leaders argue that such figures reflect disengagement and concern that election outcomes do not always reflect majority support.
Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives a majority, lower-ranked candidates are eliminated and their votes redistributed until one candidate surpasses 50%.
Norwalk Mayor Barbara Smyth said the system could improve representation. “Ranked Choice Voting offers a way to encourage broader participation and ensure that winners in multi-candidate races have true majority support,” Smyth said.
Norwich Mayor Swarnjit Singh emphasized voter choice. “Providing municipalities the option to adopt RCV would give local leaders the flexibility to strengthen democratic participation and give voters more voice in their communities,” Singh said.
Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons described the proposal as consistent with incremental reform. “Allowing municipalities to adopt Ranked Choice Voting voluntarily ensures that communities can evaluate and implement reforms that strengthen participation,” Simmons said.
Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said the system could improve campaign dynamics and voter confidence. Governor Lamont also endorsed the opt-in approach, stating that allowing municipalities to adopt Ranked Choice Voting “respects local control while giving communities a tool to increase participation and ensure majority support in local elections.”
Supporters said the proposal aligns with recommendations from the Governor’s Working Group on Ranked Choice Voting and applies only to municipal elections and party primaries.
Advocates also cited research presented at a public hearing indicating turnout gains in jurisdictions using the system. In Minneapolis–St. Paul, turnout increased by 9.6% after adoption, with larger gains in higher-poverty areas.
SB 386 now moves forward in the legislative process as lawmakers consider whether to authorize municipalities to adopt the system.
