Previously:

A letter to the editor of the Salem News was published on January 29, 2024 informing readers that: "Salem City Council has RCV under consideration in the Government Services Committee (SGSC) headed by Councilor Andy Varela this year. The SGSC is creating a commission to study RCV in Salem. After study, our City Council can vote to put a question on the November ballot to see where Salem citizens stand on RCV. If the referendum passes, our Rep. Manny Cruz files a home rule petition at the Statehouse; only after the Statehouse approves our petition, can we use RCV in our local elections. Please visit www.salemrcv.org/FairVote or VoterChoiceMA to learn more about RCV. Salem residents email City Council at citycouncilors@salem.com to urge them to get a non-binding referendum on the ballot in November so every voter can weigh in on RCV."

Here is the link to the full letter to the Editor entitled" Letter: Ranked choice voting for Salem as published in the Salem News.

In addition the process to explore creating an election commission  which would oversee its own department and election administrator  in Salem took its first step at a City Council committee meeting January 29, 2024. It ended with the committee voting to meet again soon after having gathered more information on Massachusetts cities and towns that have made the switch away from the city clerk’s office to administer elections.  How this affects RCV for Salem is yet to be determined.  For more details about the meeting link to:  Salem civic advocates support review of election commission article in the Salem News.   

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On October 19, 2023, the City of Salem Board of Registrars of Voters met.  Their first agenda item was, "To Discuss Rank Choice Voting relative to the legal duties, responsibilities, and functions of the Board of Registrar of Voters by obtaining information and advice".  Also in the agenda was  to review the Results of Request for Proposal due to criteria and cost for new voting equipment.  The video link: Oct 19, 2023 Salem Board of Registrars of Voters meeting contains the entire 90 minute meeting.  

To summarize, some important questions concerning issues that might arise as a result of implementing RCV , i.e. recounts, liability and/or lawsuits, costs, delays in reporting election results and the type of voting equipment/software needed etc. were discussed with Lauren F. Goldberg, Managing Attorney, KP Law.

A motion was approved to formulate a committee to investigate RCV and it was agreed by the Board that the City Council Government Services committee might initiate such  a committee.  The Board recommends that  the committee be composed of a City Councillor, the Mayor, the City Solicitor, a member of the Board and City Clerk.

The new voting equipment that Salem will be purchasing is needed to replace the out-of-date Accuvote system regardless of implementing RCV.   Two companies, ESS and LHS, submitted proposals and LHS was awarded the bid.  Both systems have the capability to tabulate RCV elections. Ilene Simons, Salem City Clerk, felt that we would be using the new election equipment by September 2024.

The City of Salem Board of Registrars met with the Salem City Council Committee on Government Services co-posted with the Committee of the Whole. This meeting took place in person on Wednesday July 12, 2023, at 6:00 PM for the purpose of discussing a Home Rule Petition for a charter change relative to Rank Choice Voting.  After an educational and robust discussion, the committee voted to leave the matter in Committee and hold future discussions.

Dustin Luca, a staff writer at The Salem News, posted the following article: "Salem leaders exploring rank choice voting switch".  This is an excellent synopsis of the meeting detailing the view points both for and against RCV in Salem.   

Further discussions and public meetings will be noted here.  Please stay tuned.