A House committee advanced a bill that seeks to abandon a pilot project to try ranked choice voting in the state.
The House Government Operations Committee voted 7-4 to support House Bill 290 , which would repeal ranked choice voting in cities across Utah. The pilot project, which allowed municipalities to opt in to use the alternative form of voting, would have run until 2026. Under HB 290, it would end this year.
Rep. Katy Hall, R-South Ogden, argued the pilot project was not showing signs of success and there were issues with ranked choice voting. But she faced pushback from some who testified in support of it, including the League of Women Voters of Utah and Salt Lake City Council member Dan Dugan, who was elected in a ranked choice voting election.
“I spoke in opposition to the bill as I believe municipalities should be allowed to make the decision on whether or not to use [ranked choice voting] and to let the pilot program continue,” he said.
In a traditional election, voters choose one candidate. Ranked choice voting is where voters rank the candidates in order of preference. Supporters have argued it makes for friendlier campaigns as candidates can no longer rely on their base to secure a victory. But critics say the method is confusing and campaigning is “disingenuous.”