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Home My WebLink About58-O-24 Establishing Ranked Choice Voting For Elected Offices in the City of Evanston as Approved by Voter Referendum-1 6/10/2024 58-O-24 AN ORDINANCE An Ordinance Establishing Ranked Choice Voting For Elected Offices in the City of Evanston as Approved by Voter Referendum WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 6(f) of the Illinois Constitution provides that a municipality has the power to provide for its officers, manner of selection and terms of office as approved by referendum, and WHEREAS, on November 8, 2022, the voters of the City of Evanston voted in favor of a referendum which approved changing the manner of selection of elected City officers and authorized the City government of Evanston to choose its elected officials through Ranked Choice Voting; and WHEREAS, Ranked Choice Voting is currently used in more than 50 cities in 14 states – including New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Payson, UT; Cambridge, MA; Takoma Park, MD; and Las Cruces, NW for various municipal elections; and WHEREAS, Ranked Choice Voting is also used in Maine for U.S. House and Senate Primary and general elections, and primaries for statewide offices, and State Assembly seats; and WHEREAS, the state of Alaska used Ranked Choice Voting in statewide elections in 2022; and WHEREAS, the Illinois legislature is currently considering whether to permit Ranked Choice Voting as a method for State-wide offices in the State of Illinois; and WHEREAS, the Illinois General Assembly’s consideration of Ranked Choice Voting for state-wide offices does not in any way limit the power of home rule Page 1 of 5 58-O-24 municipalities to provide for the method of selection of its officers as already authorized by the Illinois Constitution; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Evanston, through exercise of its home rule powers, has authorized Ranked Choice Voting as the method by its elected officials shall be chosen independent of any proposed state legislation; and WHEREAS, the implementation of Ranked Choice Voting in the City of Evanston does not require any amendments to the Illinois Election Code in order to be implemented; and WHEREAS, the local election authority (Cook County Clerk) has the ability to obtain electronic software that is accurately and effectively used in other places in the country to count ballots which have been cast under a Ranked Choice Voting system act; and WHEREAS, if required by the Cook County Clerk or Illinois State Board of Elections to provide additional information or direction regarding the implementation of a Ranked Choice Voting system, the City Council of the City of Evanston will, within seven days after receiving written notice of such inquiries, provide specific home rule legislative direction or other needed information or actions to the inquiring entity in the event that such questions should arise; and WHEREAS, the local election authority is statutorily authorized and required to administer the lawful and authorized elections throughout its jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, elections for municipal offices in the City of Evanston will occur on April 1, 2025; and WHEREAS, since receiving the certified election results from the referendum approving Ranked Choice Voting, the City of Evanston has repeatedly Doc ID: 93c5dc6ff2364d56b5d1a1b6695a3ea45e09db49 ~2~ Page 2 of 5 58-O-24 ~3~ urged the Cook County Clerk’s office to take steps necessary for the City to select its offices by Ranked Choice Voting in 2025; and WHEREAS, to date the Cook County Clerk has taken no action towards implementing the will of the electorate of the voters in the City of Evanston in an exercise of their constitutional powers. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, THAT: SECTION 1: Recitals. The recitals listed above are incorporated into this Ordinance as if fully set forth in this Section 1. SECTION 2: Establishment of Ranked Choice Voting. As approved by the electors of the City of Evanston through a referendum, the City Council of the City of Evanston hereby establishes Ranked Choice Voting as the method by which all elected officers shall be selected to serve in the City of Evanston. The ballot for such elections shall direct voters to rank the candidates shown on the ballot in the order of their preference from first to the last candidate shown for each office. If no candidate receives 50% of the votes cast, then the candidate receiving the least number of first choice votes shall not continue to be engaged in the process and the votes cast for that candidate for second choice by such voters shall each receive a vote. This process shall continue until a candidate has received at least 50% of the votes validly cast. In the event that two candidates should tie, the method otherwise utilized by law in the case of a tie vote shall be utilized. SECTION 3: Requests and Direction to Cook County Clerk. The local election official, the Cook County Clerk, is authorized to administer the election process for municipal elective offices. Based upon its authority as a home-rule unit and the action Doc ID: 93c5dc6ff2364d56b5d1a1b6695a3ea45e09db49Page 3 of 5 58-O-24 ~4~ of its electors by referendum, the City of Evanston, by the passage of this Ordinance, directs the County to prepare and utilize the Ranked Choice Voting system for future elections taking place within the City of Evanston for its elective offices so long as this Ordinance as originally adopted or amended shall remain in full force and effect. SECTION 4: Pledge of Cooperation. The City of Evanston pledges to fully cooperate with the Cook County Clerk as the Clerk’s office begins to implement the provisions of this Ordinance by bringing in effect Ranked Choice Voting within the City of Evanston. The City of Evanston directs the Cook County Clerk to work with the City in the implementation of the City’s right as a home -rule municipality to authorize and direct such a process. SECTION 5: Timing of the Implementation of this Ordinance. A certified copy of this Ordinance shall be delivered to the Cook County Clerk. The purpose of such notification shall be to require that the Cook County Clerk’s office meet with selected individuals from the City of Evanston to begin within 30 days after the receipt of that notice to work towards the implementation of the utilization of Ranked Choice Voting in all forthcoming elections for municipal officers within the City of Evanston. SECTION 6: By the passage of this Ordinance, the City Council of the City of Evanston believes that the Cook County Clerk is fully and lawfully directed to work with the City of Evanston to implement this type of electoral system which is utilized to a significant extent within the United States and is currently being studied by the Illinois legislature for statutory implementation within the State of Illinois. Through this direction, the City and Cook County Clerk may well assist the rest of the State in determining the advisability of a broader use of this system, but the passage of this Ordinance, through the City of Evanston’s exercise of its home-rule powers, implements Doc ID: 93c5dc6ff2364d56b5d1a1b6695a3ea45e09db49Page 4 of 5 58-O-24 all steps needed within the State of Illinois for implementation by a home-rule municipality. In the event that the Cook County Clerk chooses not to work with in a prompt and effective manner to provide for this required election system, the City is hereby authorized to take all appropriate actions, including litigation, to cause the Cook County Clerk to fulfill her full statutory responsibilities. SECTION 7: This ordinance shall be in full force and effect ten days after its passage, approval, and publication in pamphlet form as provided by law. Approved:Introduced: ________________, 2024 _________________________, 2024Adopted: __________________, 2024 ______________________________ Daniel Biss, Mayor Attest: Approved as to form: ____________________________________________________________ Alexandra B. Ruggie, CorporationStephanie Mendoza, City Clerk Counsel June 24 June 24 June 10 Doc ID: 93c5dc6ff2364d56b5d1a1b6695a3ea45e09db49 ~5~ Page 5 of 5