Park City moves forward with ranked choice voting pilot for 2025 elections

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City Council voted unanimously Thursday to implement ranked choice voting for the city’s 2025 municipal elections, making the decision during their March 13 council meeting.

The decision comes after the Utah legislature declined to extend the state’s ranked choice voting pilot program, which is set to expire after this year.

“This is the last year that this current pilot would be in effect if you choose to go the ranked choice voting route,” City Recorder and Election Official Michelle Kellogg explained to the council.

Councilmember Ryan Dickey, who has advocated for ranked choice voting in past council discussions, voiced his support by referencing the information from studies provided to council.

“It says that voters do understand it, that it is simple, that they like it,” Dickey said. “It lowers costs over time. And there’s a chance, if we do it now, a pretty good chance, I think, that we’ll get grandfathered in to a future opportunity to do it with the legislature.”

Councilmember Tana Toly highlighted the removal of primary elections as a key benefit. “Not having a primary is really going to help add more people and less barriers to entry,” Toly said, adding that it “doesn’t turn every single project and every single initiative that this council has into an election issue, into a campaign issue.”

Councilmember Bill Ciraco expressed initial skepticism but ultimately supported the measure. “In the spirit of collegiality, and given how hard Ryan has his heart set on ranked choice voting, and he’s willing to own it, I’m willing to explore it,” Ciraco said.

During public input, opinions were divided. Katie Wright, a Park City resident, encouraged implementation, stating that “ranked choice voting is just one more tool to create a more representative democracy,” adding that “it would be really popular with voters.”

A Summit County resident from zip code 84098, Hillary Jessup, opposed the change, expressing concerns about confusion and transparency. “It’s very confusing for people,” Jessup said. “I think less people would vote, because most people just know one or two people who are running.”

The next step will involve city staff drafting a resolution for council approval before May 1, which will then be submitted to the Lieutenant Governor’s office and the county clerk to joing the ranked choice voting pilot.