Indiana Lawmakers Consider Ban on Ranked-Choice Voting Amid Activist Push

More than two dozen election integrity activists are urging Indiana lawmakers to prohibit ranked-choice voting (RCV) in future elections. A bill aimed at banning the voting method has advanced to the state Senate after passing through a committee on Monday.

The push to ban RCV reflects concerns among critics about its potential to complicate elections and undermine voter confidence. Supporters of the bill argue that RCV has led to confusion and delays in jurisdictions where it has been implemented.

The proposed legislation, known as SB 12, stipulates that elections in Indiana cannot be determined by ranked-choice voting. It also prohibits candidates from being nominated or elected through this method. Emma Garelick, a visiting fellow at the Foundation for Government Accountability Action, stated, "There’s been a decade-long push by the left to replace traditional American elections with ranked-choice voting. The bad news is that open socialists are running and winning in ranked-choice voting havens like Maine and New York City."

The Senate Elections Committee voted 7-2 to advance SB 12, with Committee Chair Mike Gaskill expressing his support for the bill. "I am happy to be an author of SB 12 to prohibit the use of ranked choice voting in Indiana," Gaskill said in a statement.

Concerns Over Ranked-Choice Voting

Under ranked-choice voting, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed based on voters' second choices. This process continues until a candidate secures a majority.

Critics of RCV argue that it has led to significant issues in places where it has been adopted, including voter confusion, increased instances of "exhausted" ballots, and delayed election results. The letter from election integrity activists noted that RCV has been largely promoted by Democrats and has resulted in Democratic victories in races where Republican candidates received the majority of votes.

The activists’ letter to lawmakers highlighted that RCV has produced "repeated disasters" in jurisdictions that have tried it. They contend that the method is an attempt by Democrats to introduce chaos into the electoral process, particularly as congressional Democrats have struggled to pass broader election reforms.

Legislative Support and Opposition

In addition to Gaskill, SB 12 is sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chris Garten, who has publicly advocated for banning RCV. Garten stated on social media, "It’s time for Indiana to join 17 other states to ban ranked choice voting (RCV) statewide. Where it’s been used, RCV has been a disaster with trashed ballots, delayed results, and diminished voter confidence. Let’s get it done!"

Despite the momentum for the bill, proponents of ranked-choice voting have faced setbacks in their efforts to expand the system nationwide. Many ballot initiatives advocating for RCV were defeated in the 2024 elections, even in traditionally Democratic states like Oregon and Colorado.

A spokesperson for House Elections and Apportionment Committee Chair Tim Wesco confirmed receipt of a request for comment but did not provide a response by the deadline. Supporters of RCV argue that it can enhance voter choice and ensure that elected officials have broader support among constituents.

As the debate over ranked-choice voting continues, Indiana lawmakers are poised to make a decision that could align the state with a growing number of jurisdictions that have opted to ban the method. The outcome of SB 12 may set a precedent for how Indiana approaches election integrity and voter confidence in the future.