Senate Concurs On Gavarone Bill Prohibiting Ranked Choice Voting

COLUMBUS—The Ohio Senate concurred on Senate Bill 63, sponsored by State Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and State Senator Bill DeMora (D-Columbus), legislation which would effectively prohibit the use of ranked choice voting in Ohio.

Ranked choice voting is a voting method that continuously eliminates candidates in a series of rounds until one candidate wins a majority, 50% +1 vote. Under this election method, voters rank candidates in order of their personal preference instead of choosing just one.

"Ranked choice voting distorts election outcomes and erodes the public trust in election results," said Senator Gavarone. "This disastrous electoral system has no place in Ohio. I'm proud to see Ohio take this important step in maintaining our spot as the leader in election security and integrity."

Senate Bill 63 would prohibit ranked choice voting in all elections in Ohio except, as the Ohio Supreme Court decided in 1923, for those conducted in municipalities or chartered counties. The bill would deem any municipality or chartered county ineligible to receive Local Government Fund distributions if they choose to implement ranked choice voting.

Senate Bill 63 now heads to Governor DeWine for signature.

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