Wisconsin lawmakers weigh bipartisan ranked choice voting bill as opponents push to ban the method

By TODD RICHMOND and HARM VENHUIZEN
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A bipartisan bill that would dramatically rework how Wisconsin residents choose congressional candidates had its first hearing in the state Legislature on Tuesday. The proposal would implement a ranked choice voting system for U.S. Senate and House candidates. Under that method, every candidate appears on the ballot and voters rank their top five choices. Advocates say the system would make elections less partisan and improve third-party and independent candidates’ chances. Opponents insist the approach is too complicated. A group of Republican legislators have proposed a constitutional amendment outlawing the system. The state Senate’s elections committee heard public comment on the bill Tuesday.