This bill modifies the structure and election process for county boards of commissioners in larger counties (population 250,000 or more) by requiring five commissioners and five districts, with three options for how they are elected.
Current Law vs. Proposed ChangesCurrent System (Counties with 70,000+ Population)
Counties may have either:
Three commissioners elected countywide from three districts.
Five commissioners, with counties divided into either three or five districts.
Commissioners may be elected:
By district or at large.
Using various election methods.
New Requirements for Larger Counties (250,000+ Population)
These counties must:
Have five commissioners.
Be divided into five districts.
Choose one of three election methods:
Three Election Methods for County Commissioners
District-Based Elections
Five commissioners must reside in and be elected only by voters in their district (no countywide voting).
Mixed System (District & At-Large Elections)
Three commissioners must reside in and be elected only by their district.
Two commissioners are elected at large (countywide).
All five commissioners are elected at large (countywide).
Uses ranked-choice voting to ensure proportional representation.
Other Changes
The bill updates statutes related to commissioner districts and election petition rules to align with these changes.
Summary
Larger counties (250,000+ population) must have five commissioners and five districts.
They must use one of three election methods:
District-based elections (each commissioner elected only by their district).
Mixed system (three by district, two at large).
Ranked-choice voting (all elected at large).
Summary
Currently, in a county with a population of 70,000 or more, the
board of county commissioners (board) may consist of 3 commissioners from 3 districts, with one commissioner elected from each district by voters of the whole county. Alternatively, the board may consist of 5 commissioners, in which case the county may be divided into 3 or 5 districts, and the commissioners may be elected pursuant to numerous methods, including by district or at large or by some combination of both methods.
The bill modifies this discretionary system for any county with a
population of 250,000 or more by requiring each such county to have 5 commissioners and 5 districts and to choose one of the following 3 methods for their election:
•
5 commissioners resident in 5 districts elected only by voters resident in those districts;
•
3 commissioners resident in 3 districts elected only by voters resident in those districts and 2 commissioners elected at large; or
•
5 commissioners elected at large using the proportional ranked voting method known as the single transferable vote method.
The bill makes conforming amendments to statutory provisions
concerning commissioner district and election petition statutes.
