More Utah cities switching to ranked-choice voting

Whether voters make their choices in person or by mail, more Utah cities are going to try the ranked-choice system. Photo: Elliott Stallion

PROVO, Utah (AP) — Seven cities in Utah County have so far said they plan on using ranked-choice voting for this year’s municipal elections.

Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank candidates they prefer from first to last, the Daily Herald reported Wednesday. If no candidate gets more than half of the first place votes, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and their votes go to the voter’s second choice. The process recycles until a candidate has the majority of votes.

The cities and towns that have opted in include Lehi, Springville, Woodland Hills, Goshen, Genola, Payson and Vineyard. They are among more than a dozen cities throughout Utah — including Salt Lake City, Draper and Sandy — that have opted into the program this year.

The Salt Lake City council voted 6-1 this week to try ranked-choice voting in upcoming fall elections.

Park City councilman Tim Henney said the council hasn’t discussed the issue here, and that at this point, council members haven’t heard any call from the community to consider it.

A Utah legislature bill passed in 2018 cleared the way for cities to try the system if they choose. The goal of ranked-choice voting, proponents say, is to ensure that winners have the support of a majority of voters.

Other cities and towns have until May 10 to notify the Utah Office of Elections whether they will turn to ranked-choice voting for this upcoming election cycle.