History of ranked-choice voting (RCV) ballot measures

History of ranked-choice voting (RCV) ballot measures
Ranked-choice voting (RCV)
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The ballot measure has played a role in shaping electoral systems in the U.S., including ranked-choice voting (RCV) for state and local elections.

Since 1915, there have been more than 150 ballot measures to adopt or repeal ranked-choice voting systems. Ashtabula, Ohio, was the first jurisdiction to approve a ranked-choice voting measure in 1915.

RCV is an electoral system in which voters rank candidates on their ballots. RCV can be used for single-winner elections or multi-winner elections; when used for multi-winner elections, the system has also been called single-transferable vote or proportional representation. These terms were often used to describe multi-winner RCV before the 1970s. You can learn more about ranked-choice voting systems and policies here.

This page provides an overview of ranked-choice voting (RCV) state and local ballot measures since 1965.

• From 1965 through 2025, there were 12 statewide ballot measures in eight states. Ten (83.3%) were to adopt RCV, and two (16.7%) were to repeal or preempt RCV.

• Ballotpedia has located 72 local ballot measures to adopt RCV. Voters approved 57 (79.2%) and rejected 15 (20.8%).

• There were eight local ballot measures to repeal RCV. Voters approved four (50.0%) and rejected four (50.0%).

• The year with the most local RCV ballot measures was 2022, when nine were on the ballot in nine jurisdictions. Voters approved seven of them.

• The state with the most local ballot measures related to RCV is California, where there have been 13.

On this page, you will find lists of states and local jurisdictions where RCV measures appeared on the ballot, and campaign finance information for political action committees surrounding state RCV ballot measures.

HIGHLIGHTS

November 2024: On November 5, voters decided on six state ballot measures that proposed enacting, repealing, or preempting RCV in Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Nevada, and Oregon.

Most Expensive Campaign: In 2022, voters approved Nevada Question 3. A total of $25.44 million was raised between campaigns. Supporters received $23.0 million. Opponents received $2.4 million.

Most Active Donor: The Action Now Initiative (ANI) contributed the most in support of state RCV measures with a total of $10.6 million distributed between the state ballot measures since 2016.

State ranked-choice voting ballot measures

As of 2025, voters in eight states had decided on 12 state ballot measures related to ranked-choice voting.

• Ten (83.3%) were to adopt RCV, and two (16.7%) were to repeal or preempt RCV.
• The average vote on a ballot measure to adopt RCV was 45.7% to 54.3%.
• Alaska had three ballot measures about RCV, the most relative to other states.
• The ballot measure with the narrowest margin was Alaska Ballot Measure 2 in 2024, which received 49.9% of the vote. Ballot Measure 2 would have repealed the state's top-four RCV system, adopted two years earlier.
• The ballot measure with the widest margin was Idaho Proposition 1, which was defeated, with 69.6% voting against the initiative. Proposition 1 would have enacted a top-four RCV system in Idaho.

List of state ballot measures by year

The following table provides a list of state ranked-choice voting (RCV) ballot measures:

List of RCV ballot measures

State	Year	Type	Measure	Position	Yes	No	Outcome
Alaska	2024	Initiative	Ballot Measure 2: Repeal Top-Four RCV Initiative	Anti-RCV	49.88%	50.12%	d
Colorado	2024	Initiative	Proposition 131: Top-Four RCV Initiative	Pro-RCV	46.47%	53.53%	d
Idaho	2024	Initiative	Proposition 1: Top-Four RCV Initiative	Pro-RCV	30.38%	69.62%	d
Missouri	2024	Referral	Amendment 7: Require Citizenship to Vote and Prohibit RCV Amendment	Anti-RCV	68.44%	31.56%	a
Nevada	2024	Initiative	Question 3: Top-Five RCV Initiative	Pro-RCV	47.04%	52.96%	d
Oregon	2024	Referral	Measure 117: RCV for Federal and State Elections Measure	Pro-RCV	42.30%	57.70%	d
Nevada	2022	Initiative	Question 3: Top-Five RCV Initiative	Pro-RCV	52.94%	47.06%	a
Alaska	2020	Initiative	Ballot Measure 2: Top-Four RCV and Campaign Finance Laws Initiative	Pro-RCV	50.55%	49.45%	a
Massachusetts	2020	Initiative	Question 2: RCV Initiative	Pro-RCV	45.22%	54.78%	d
Maine	2018	Initiative	Question 1: Overturn RCV Delayed Enactment and Automatic Repeal Legislation Referendum	Pro-RCV	53.88%	46.12%	a
Maine	2016	Initiative	Question 5: RCV Initiative	Pro-RCV	52.12%	47.88%	a
Alaska	2002	Initiative	Ballot Measure 1: RCV Initiative	Pro-RCV	36.27%	63.73%	d

Campaign finance totals

The following table lists each measure's support and opposition campaign totals, if available.

Measure	Support	Opposition	Total	Outcome
Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Repeal Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)	$538,596.93	$15,496,407.30	$16,035,004.23	d
Colorado Proposition 131, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)	$14,655,331.91	$458,719.77	$15,114,051.68	d
Idaho Proposition 1, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)	$5,621,307.06	$231,401.21	$5,852,708.27	d
Missouri Amendment 7, Require Citizenship to Vote and Prohibit Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment (2024)	$0.00	$1,651.57	$1,651.57	a
Nevada Question 3, Top-Five Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)	$28,962,650.00	$3,260,000.00	$32,222,650.00	d
Oregon Measure 117, Ranked-Choice Voting for Federal and State Elections Measure (2024)	$10,701,951.23	$14,115.00	$10,716,066.23	d
Nevada Question 3, Top-Five Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2022)	$23,018,271.58	$2,425,000.00	$25,443,271.58	a
Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting and Campaign Finance Laws Initiative (2020)	$6,844,544.33	$579,426.18	$7,423,970.51	a
Massachusetts Question 2, Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2020)	$10,179,108.24	$8,475.74	$10,187,583.98	d
Maine Question 1, Ranked-Choice Voting Delayed Enactment and Automatic Repeal Referendum (June 2018)	$1,577,811.98	$0.00	$1,577,811.98	a
Maine Question 5, Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2016)	$2,944,419.44	$0.00	$2,944,419.44	a

Top donors

Support

The table below lists the top five donors to campaigns supporting ranked-choice voting state ballot measures.

Donor	Measure(s)	Contribution total
Article IV	Alaska Ballot Measure 2 (2024) Idaho Proposition 1 (2024) Nevada Question 3 (2024) Oregon Measure 117 (2024)	$27,850,000.00
Unite America	Alaska Ballot Measure 2 (2024) Alaska Ballot Measure 2 (2020) Colorado Proposition 131 (2024) Idaho Proposition 1 (2024) Massachusetts Question 2 (2020) Nevada Question 3 (2022) Nevada Question 3 (2024)	$25,856,858.00
Action Now Initiative	Alaska Ballot Measure 2 (2024) Alaska Ballot Measure 2 (2020) Maine Question 1 (2018) Maine Question 5 (2016) Massachusetts Question 2 (2020) Nevada Question 3 (2022)	$12,592,933.00
Katherine Gehl	Massachusetts Question 2 (2020) Nevada Question 3 (2022)	$6,251,050.00
Kathryn Murdoch	Colorado Proposition 131 (2024) Massachusetts Question 2 (2020)	$5,500,000.00

Opposition

The table below lists the top five donors to campaigns opposing ranked-choice voting state ballot measures.

Donor	Measure	Contribution total
Nevada Alliance	Nevada Question 3 (2024) Nevada Question 3 (2022)	$4,425,000.00
Nevada Conservation League	Nevada Question 3 (2022)	$310,000.00
Majority Forward	Nevada Question 3 (2022)	$250,000.00
Republican State Leadership Committee	Alaska Ballot Measure 2 (2020)	$150,000.00
Ranked Choice Education Association	Alaska Ballot Measure 2 (2024)	$152,000.00

Local ranked-choice voting ballot measures

Between 1965 and October 2025, 80 ranked-choice voting (RCV) local ballot measures were on the ballot in 59 jurisdictions in 19 states.

• California has had the most—13—local RCV ballot measures compared to other states.
• Colorado has had the second most—10—local RCV ballot measures.

There are also cities and counties that have adopted RCV without a ballot measure. A full list of jurisdictions where RCV has been adopted is available here.

The following map shows the local jurisdictions that have voted on ranked-choice voting ballot measures:

Timeline

From 1965 through 1997, seven local jurisdictions decided on six ballot measures to adopt or repeal ranked-choice voting (RCV). Four of those measures were to adopt RCV, and two of them were to repeal RCV.

Between 1998 and 2011, voters decided on 32 measures in 28 jurisdictions—approving 25 (78.13%) and rejecting seven (21.87%). There were no local measures on ballots again until 2015.

Between 2015 and October 2025, voters decided on 42 measures in 35 jurisdictions. Voters approved 34 (81.0%) and rejected eight (19.0%).

The year with the greatest number of local ranked-choice voting (RCV) measures on the ballot was 2022, when there were nine.

The following chart shows the number of ranked-choice voting ballot measures per year since 1965:

List of local ballot measures by policy direction

The following table shows the number of ranked-choice voting measures by policy direction.

Local ranked-choice vote measures by policy direction and outcome, 1965 - October 2025

Direction	Total	Approved	Approved (%)	Defeated	Defeated (%)
Adopt RCV	72	57	79.2%	15	20.8%
Repeal RCV	8	4	50.0%	4	50.0%
Total	80	61	76.3%	19	23.7%

List of local ranked-choice voting ballot measures

2025

Jurisdiction	State	Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
Skokie	IL	Initiative	Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Adopt ranked-choice voting for city elections	a	6,800 (59%)	4,812 (41%)
Greenbelt	MD	Referral	Advisory Referendum 1	Advise the city government to adopt ranked-choice voting (RCV)	a	2,151 (68%)	1,032 (32%)

1965-2025

The following table provides a list of ranked-choice voting local ballot measures from 1965 to October 2025.

Jurisdiction	State	Year	Title	Adopt or Repeal	Yes vote	No vote	Status
Skokie	Illinois	2025	Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Adopt	58.56%	41.44%	a
Washington, D.C.	D.C.	2024	Initiative 83, Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Adopt	72.89%	27.11%	a
Oak Park	Illinois	2024	Ranked-Choice Voting for Village President and Board of Trustees Initiative	Adopt	79.57%	20.43%	a
Peoria Township	Illinois	2024	Ranked-Choice Voting Advisory Question	Adopt	67.13%	32.87%	a
Bloomington	Minnesota	2024	Question 1, Repeal of Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Repeal	48.71%	51.29%	d
Redondo Beach	California	2023	Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment	Adopt	76.67%	23.33%	a
Easthampton	Massachusetts	2023	Question 1, Multi-Winner Ranked-Choice Voting Advisory Question	Adopt	61.76%	38.24%	a
East Lansing	Michigan	2023	Question 3, Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Adopt	52.48%	47.52%	a
Kalamazoo	Michigan	2023	Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Adopt	70.97%	29.03%	a
Royal Oak	Michigan	2023	Proposal B, Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Adopt	50.53%	49.47%	a
Minnetonka	Minnesota	2023	Repeal of Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Repeal	41.34%	58.66%	d
Burlington	Vermont	2023	Question 6: Ranked-Choice Voting for Mayor, School Commissioner, and Ward Election Officer Amendment	Adopt	64.42%	35.58%	a
Clark County	Washington	2022	Amendment 10: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	41.94%	58.06%	d
San Juan County	Washington	2022	Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	45.64%	54.36%	d
Seattle	Washington	2022	Proposition 1A and 1B: Approval Voting Initiative and Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	50.95%	49.05%	a
Multnomah County	Oregon	2022	Measure 26-232: Ranked-Choice Voting for County Elections Amendment	Adopt	69.09%	30.91%	a
Portland	Oregon	2022	Measure 26-228: Changes to City Governance and Ranked-Choice Voting	Adopt	58.10%	41.90%	a
Portland	Maine	2022	Question 4: Proportional Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment	Adopt	63.59%	36.41%	a
Evanston	Illinois	2022	Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	82.58%	17.42%	a
Fort Collins	Colorado	2022	Ballot Question 2C: Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment	Adopt	58.15%	41.85%	a
Ojai	California	2022	Measure M: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	55.84%	44.16%	a
Burlington	Vermont	2021	Question 4: Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment	Adopt	64.44%	35.56%	a
Austin	Texas	2021	Proposition E: Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Adopt	57.95%	42.05%	a
Ann Arbor	Michigan	2021	Proposal B: Ranked-Choice Voting Charter Amendment	Adopt	72.83%	27.17%	a
Westbrook	Maine	2021	Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Adopt	62.94%	37.06%	a
Broomfield	Colorado	2021	Question 2A: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	51.90%	48.10%	a
Minnetonka	Minnesota	2020	Question 1: Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment	Adopt	54.71%	45.29%	a
Bloomington	Minnesota	2020	Question 3: Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment	Adopt	51.19%	48.81%	a
Portland	Maine	2020	Ranked-Choice Voting for City Council and School Board Measure	Adopt	81.24%	18.76%	a
Boulder	Colorado	2020	Measure 2E: Ranked-Choice Voting for Mayor Amendment	Adopt	78.14%	21.86%	a
Albany	California	2020	Measure BB: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	73.27%	26.73%	a
Eureka	California	2020	Measure C: Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment	Adopt	61.05%	38.95%	a
Easthampton	Massachusetts	2019	Question 1: Ranked-Choice Voting for Mayor Measure	Adopt	55.32%	44.68%	a
Easthampton	Massachusetts	2019	Question 2: Ranked-Choice Voting for City Council Measure	Adopt	55.62%	44.38%	a
Lowell	Massachusetts	2019	Question 1: Ranked-Choice Voting Advisory Question	Adopt	49.07%	50.93%	d
New York City	New York	2019	Ballot Question 1: Elections Charter Amendment	Adopt	73.61%	26.39%	a
Memphis	Tennessee	2018	Referendum Ordinance No. 5669: Repeal of Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Repeal	37.41%	62.59%	d
Santa Clara	California	2018	Measure A: District Council Elections and Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment	Adopt	47.78%	52.22%	d
Amherst	Massachusetts	2018	Amherst Home Rule Charter, Ballot Initiatives, and Ranked-Choice Voting Commission Amendment	Adopt	58.43%	41.57%	a
Benton County	Oregon	2016	Measure 2-100: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	54.18%	45.82%	a
Duluth	Minnesota	2015	Question 2: Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Adopt	25.30%	74.70%	d
Fort Collins	Colorado	2011	Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Adopt	38.63%	61.37%	d
Burlington	Vermont	2010	Question 5: Repeal of Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Repeal	51.98%	48.02%	a
Portland	Maine	2010	Question 1: Ranked-Choice Voting for Mayor Measure	Adopt	52.29%	47.71%	a
Aspen	Colorado	2010	Aspen Referendum 2B: Repeal of Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Repeal	65.28%	34.72%	a
Aspen	Colorado	2009	Referendum 2A: Continue Ranked-Choice Voting Advisory Question	Adopt	49.78%	50.22%	d
Pierce County	Washington	2009	Amendment 3: Repeal of Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Repeal	70.65%	29.35%	a
St. Paul	Minnesota	2009	Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	52.45%	47.55%	a
Cincinnati	Ohio	2008	Issue 8:Proportional Representation for City Council Initiative	Adopt	47.24%	52.76%	d
Glendale	Arizona	2008	Proposition 404: Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Adopt	45.20%	54.80%	d
Memphis	Tennessee	2008	Referendum 5: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	70.70%	29.30%	a
Santa Fe	New Mexico	2008	Amendment 5: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	65.02%	34.98%	a
Telluride	Colorado	2008	Question 202: Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Adopt	67.08%	32.92%	a
Aspen	Colorado	2007	Referendum 2E: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	76.78%	23.22%	a
Clallam County	Washington	2007	Amendment 1: Allow for Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	45.38%	54.62%	d
Sarasota	Florida	2007	Question 2: Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Adopt	77.61%	22.39%	a
Springfield	Illinois	2007	Ranked-Choice Voting for Military and Overseas Voters Measure	Adopt	91.01%	8.99%	a
Pierce County	Washington	2006	Amendment 3: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	52.93%	47.07%	a
Minneapolis	Minnesota	2006	Question 1: Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment	Adopt	64.95%	35.05%	a
Oakland	California	2006	Measure O: Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment (November 2006)	Adopt	68.63%	31.37%	a
Davis	California	2006	Measure L: Multi-Winner Ranked-Choice Voting Advisory Question	Adopt	55.41%	44.59%	a
Burlington	Vermont	2005	Question 5: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	64.46%	35.54%	a
Takoma Park	Maryland	2005	Ranked-Choice Voting Advisory Question	Adopt	83.63%	16.37%	a
Ferndale	Michigan	2004	Proposal B: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	69.75%	30.25%	a
Berkeley	California	2004	Measure I: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	72.25%	27.75%	a
Carbondale	Colorado	2003	Home Rule Charter and Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment	Adopt	80.06%	19.94%	a
Basalt	Colorado	2002	Referendum 2A: Home Rule Charter and Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment	Adopt	74.44%	25.56%	a
San Francisco	California	2002	Proposition A: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	55.48%	44.52%	a
Eugene	Oregon	2001	Measure 20-51: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	34.41%	65.59%	d
San Leandro	California	2000	Measure F: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	63.05%	36.95%	a
Vancouver	Washington	1999	Amendment 1: Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	52.91%	47.09%	a
Multnomah County	Oregon	1998	Measure 26-85: Repeal Election Runoff Requirement and Allow RCV Measure	Adopt	40.07%	59.93%	d
Santa Clara County	California	1998	Measure F: Allow for Ordinance for Ranked-Choice Voting Measure	Adopt	53.93%	46.07%	a
San Francisco	California	1996	Proposition H: Preference Voting for Board of Supervisors Measure	Adopt	43.60%	56.40%	d
Cincinnati	Ohio	1991	Issue 6: Proportional Representation for City Council Amendment	Adopt	44.84%	55.16%	d
Cincinnati	Ohio	1988	Issue 2: Proportional Representation for City Council Amendment	Adopt	45.39%	54.61%	d
Ann Arbor	Michigan	1976	Proposal B: Repeal of Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Repeal	62.43%	37.57%	a
Ann Arbor	Michigan	1974	Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative	Adopt	52.55%	47.45%	a
Cambridge	Massachusetts	1965	Question 1: Repeal of Proportional Representation Initiative	Repeal	45.69%	54.31%	d

See also

• 2026 ballot measures
• Ranked-choice voting (RCV)
• Electoral systems on the ballot
• Local electoral systems on the ballot
• Electoral systems by state