Boston City Council and mayor approve ranked choice voting
On May 14, the Boston City Council passed a measure to adopt ranked choice voting (RCV).
Mayor Michelle Wu has since signed the measure – a “home rule petition” that requests authorization from the Massachusetts state legislature to implement RCV. If state lawmakers approve the petition, Boston voters will then decide whether to adopt RCV through a ballot measure.
Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune celebrated the council’s vote:
This is a historic day for Boston. Today’s vote brings us closer to a more inclusive, representative, and transparent democracy – one that ensures our elected leaders have broad support and are chosen by the majority of voters. Ranked choice voting is not only simple, it’s powerful. It gives voters more voice and more choice.
With Mayor Wu’s signature, Boston joins seven other Bay State cities that have passed home rule petitions seeking to improve their elections with RCV. The largest cities in seven states currently use RCV for their local elections; when implemented, Boston will become the eighth.
Boston has come out strongly in favor of RCV before. In 2020, a ballot measure to implement RCV statewide in Massachusetts failed to pass, but 62% of Boston voters supported the measure.
Ranked Choice Boston Executive Director Ed Shoemaker emphasized the need for RCV following the City Council’s vote:
This vote is about honoring the will of Boston voters and taking a bold step toward a more inclusive democracy. Ranked choice voting gives power back to the people by empowering voters to vote with their hearts. It reduces the fear of ‘spoiler’ candidates and encourages coalition-building.
Congratulations to our friends at Ranked Choice Boston for this win! To support RCV where you live, join an RCV group in your state today.
This post was last updated on May 28, 2025, to reflect that Mayor Michelle Wu has signed the home rule petition for RCV.
