This model statute is based on an Alabama statute.  For alternative formats, see the the cumulative voting statute for Texas school board elections and the statutory language used in Peoria, Illinois, which uses the equal-allocation "Peoria" method of cumulative voting.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

Relating to elections in the town/city of _______________; providing for elections by a method known as cumulative voting; describing and defining such election method.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF _______:

Section 1. Elections for the town/city council of _____________ shall henceforth be elected by the method known as cumulative voting.

Section 2. The council shall consist of five members who shall be elected at large by the voters of the town/city. Each voter shall cast up to five votes and may distribute them among candidates in any manner the voter chooses, including casting more than one vote for a candidate. The five candidates receiving the most votes shall be elected. There shall be no runoff. Ties shall be broken by lot.

Section 3. The ballot shall be in substantially the following form:

INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTER: Cast up to five votes by placing X's in boxes next to candidates you wish to vote for. You may cast more than one vote for one or more candidates, but no more than five votes total

  Candidate     Vote One     Vote Two     Vote Three     Vote Four     Vote Five
 Candidate A 
                         
 Candidate B
                         
 Candidate C
                         
 Candidate E
                         
 Candidate F
                         
 Candidate G
                         
 Candidate H