Model Legislation

The following resources are designed to help you prepare statutory language, legislation, ballot questions, resolutions or testimony in support of IRV. The pages include models, samples from a number of state and local IRV efforts and legal guidelines. For more information or assistance with legislative or legal issues relating to IRV in your state, email "irv(AT)fairvote.org." 

Model IRV Legislation

• Model Instant Runoff Voting Statute - statewide implementation of IRV

• Model Ranked Voting Enabling Bill (Short) - to allow municipalities to use IRV in local elections

• Model Ranked Voting Enabling Bill (Medium Detail) - to allow municipalities to use IRV in local elections
• Colorado Ranked Voting enabling law  - enables municipal adoption of IRV and Choice Voting

• 2009 Legislation - links to actual IRV bills introduced in various state legislatures

• Model IRV Charter Amendment (Short) - to implement IRV in a single municipality

Voting Equipment

• Model Voting Equipment Compatibility Language - statutory language to assure  new voting equipment can accommodate ranked ballots
• Proposed language for ranked-voting to include in a Request for Proposal (RFP) for voting equipment - language for ranked-voting to include in a Request for Proposal (RFP) to voting equipment companies
• Sample Modularity Language -  statutory language to enhance election integrity while accommodating ranked ballots

State/Municipal Examples:

• North Carolina:  Legislation creating a instant runoff voting pilot project in local elections (H. 1024)
• Ann Arbor, Michigan: Charter amendment implementing instant runoff voting in 1975
• San Francisco, CA: Charter amendment implementing instant runoff voting