Salem City Council orders ranked-choice voting Home Rule Petition
Salem City Council Committee votes unanimously to advance ranked-choice voting petition. The Government Services Committee voted 5-0 on January 15 to direct the City Solicitor to prepare a Home Rule Petition requesting state authorization to amend the City Charter to allow ranked-choice voting in
City Council · Meeting of January 15, 2026
Salem City Council Committee votes unanimously to advance ranked-choice voting petition. The Government Services Committee voted 5-0 on January 15 to direct the City Solicitor to prepare a Home Rule Petition requesting state authorization to amend the City Charter to allow ranked-choice voting in local elections. Councillor Andrew W.
Varela, supported by Councillor Lydia C. King, stated that ranked-choice voting could attract a more diverse candidate pool and ensure elected officials have majority voter support. If approved by the state and voters, the system would require $12,000 for voting-machine software in year one and roughly 10 percent for annual licensing fees; eliminating primary elections would save $30,000 to $50,000 per election cycle.
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Source: the City Council meeting of January 15, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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