Title
Amending Chapter 31 of the Legislative Code pertaining to ranked voting.
Body
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL DOES ORDAIN:
SECTION 1
Section 31.03 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
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Sec. 31.03. - Ballots.
(a) Ballot format.
(1) When there are six (6) five (5) or more qualified candidates, a ballot must allow a voter to rank at least six (6) candidates for each office in order of preference and must also allow the voter to add, including a write-in candidates. When there are fewer than six (6) five (5) candidates, the ballot must allow the voter to rank each candidate for office and must also allow the voter to add a write-in candidate.
(2) To the greatest extent practical, the ballot design shall:
a. Allow for electronic counting of first rankings, and preferably for all rankings, so that early round winners can be identified on election night;
b. Allow the voting systems to detect errors in ballot marking for at least the first ranking, and preferably all rankings, to provide an opportunity for a voter to correct a mismarked ballot; and
(3) A ballot must include instructions to voters that clearly indicate how to mark the ballot so as to be read by the election judges conducting the count, or if a voting system is to be used, so as to be read by the voting system used to tabulate results.
(4) A ballot must include instructions to voters that clearly indicate how to rank candidates in order of the voter's preference.
(b) Mixed-election method ballots. If elections are held in which ranked voting is used in addition to other methods of voting, the ranked voting and non-ranked voting election must be on the same ballot card if possible, with ranked voting and non-ranked voting portions clearly separated on the ballot card. If placement of all offices to be elected cannot be placed on a single ballot card, a separate ballot card may be used for those offices to be elected using ranked voting.
(c) Ballot design and instructions timeline. The ballot design for the general election must be established no later than 14 days before the first day to file affidavits of candidacy for the offices on the ballot. The chief election officer must provide instructional and educational materials for voters, candidates and election judges on the ranked voting method and the ballot design no later than eight (8) weeks before the general election. All election judges must receive training in the election procedures to be used for ranked voting no later than one (1) week before the general election.
(d) Ballot format rules. The chief election official shall establish administrative rules for ballot format after a voting mechanism has been selected. All rules shall be adopted in accordance with this section. If a voting system is to be used, and the voting system can be programmed to do so, the ballot must include a number of columns equal to the number of candidates for mayor or council member, plus one, not to exceed a total number of six columns. A number indicating the voter’s choice must be listed for each column, beginning with the voter’s first choice in the left- hand column, and continuing in order with the second and successive choices until all columns have been numbered.
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SECTION 2
This ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days following its passage, approval and publication.