{"MatterId":14718,"MatterGuid":"5FACEA22-0825-436F-A310-C7785701F6CA","MatterLastModifiedUtc":"2026-07-13T16:08:32.19","MatterRowVersion":"AAAAAADOkdo=","MatterFile":"O-26-13","MatterName":null,"MatterTitle":"Adopting A Ranked Choice Voting System, Repealing And Replacing Article II, Sections 7 And 8 Of The City Charter, And Directing The City Clerk To Develop Educational Materials (Rogers, Fiebelkorn and Telles)","MatterTypeId":1,"MatterTypeName":"Ordinance","MatterStatusId":7,"MatterStatusName":"Failed","MatterBodyId":1,"MatterBodyName":"City Council","MatterIntroDate":"2026-02-18T00:00:00","MatterAgendaDate":null,"MatterPassedDate":"2026-04-06T00:00:00","MatterEnactmentDate":null,"MatterEnactmentNumber":null,"MatterRequester":null,"MatterNotes":null,"MatterVersion":"1","MatterCost":null,"MatterText1":null,"MatterText2":null,"MatterText3":null,"MatterText4":null,"MatterText5":null,"MatterDate1":null,"MatterDate2":null,"MatterEXText1":"CC 4/6/26 (vh)\r\n\r\nBrief Summary: This Ordinance proposes to amend Art. II, sections 7 and 8 of the City Charter with a new Section 7 that would adopt a ranked-choice runoff election, allowing voters to rank candidates for Mayor and City Council in the order of preference for the voter. The proposed ranked-choice voting would be implemented in the regular local election in November of 2027 and would continue for all subsequent elections. Further, this Ordinance would direct the City Clerk to develop and administer an educational campaign to inform the public about the City’s transition to Ranked Choice Voting, explain how the system functions, and encourage voter understanding and participation. \r\n\r\nAnalysis: The Ordinance Whereas clauses emphasize that the status quo election system requires a candidate to receive the number of votes to equal or exceed 50% of the total number of votes cast for the office. In the event that a candidate does not receive this threshold, a runoff election must be held within 45 days between the two top candidates from the regular election. From this procedure, the City has been required to hold six runoff elections since the runoff provisions have been in place. The cost for each of these runoff elections have ranged from $368,675 (in 2019) to an estimated $1.6 million (in 2025). The Ordinance also emphasizes that other jurisdictions in New Mexico, including Las Cruces and Santa Fe, have adopted ranked-choice voting and that it is legal to do so by ordinance under state law.\r\n\r\nFiscal Impact: The Ordinance contemplates two fiscal impacts: (1) savings from no longer holding run-off elections, and (2) expenditures from the development and administration of ranked-choice voting campaign by the City Clerk. Although this Ordinance does not contemplate the cost of the educational campaign, it does note the expense of run-off elections which, consistent with the objectives of this bill, would be money saved going forward.\r\n\r\nKey Dates: There are no key dates in this bill aside from its effective date (“[t]his bill takes effect five days after publication by title and general summary”). \r\n\r\nComments: This Ordinance would amend a Charter provision. Charter amendments normally require either a P-Bill and Companion Resolution or a Charter provision that explicitly allows amendment by ordinance. However, in this instance, state statute allows for amendment of this Charter provision by ordinance. NMSA 1978, §1-22-16(C) (“[a] municipality whose laws provide for a runoff election shall conduct the election in the manner provided by the municipality's ordinance or charter; provided that a municipality may by ordinance choose between conducting a top-two runoff election and a ranked-choice runoff election. The ordinance shall be filed with the secretary of state no later than June 30 of the year the next regular local election is scheduled”) (emphasis added).\r\n\r\nAfter introduction on February 18, 2026, this Ordinance was referred to FGO on March 9, 2026. On March 9, 2026, this Ordinance was heard at FGO. A motion was made at FGO by Councilor Telles that this matter be sent to Council with a recommendation of Do Pass. The motion failed by a vote of 1-4. \r\n\r\nAt the City Council Meeting on March 16, 2026, a motion was made by Councilor Fiebelkorn to revive this Ordinance and place it on the Council agenda for action for the City Council Meeting on April 6, 2026. This motion carried by a vote of 4-5.\r\n\r\nFGO 3/9/26 (vh)\r\n\r\nBrief Summary: This Ordinance proposes to amend Art. II, sections 7 and 8 of the City Charter with a new Section 7 that would adopt a ranked-choice runoff election, allowing voters to rank candidates for Mayor and City Council in the order of preference for the voter. The proposed ranked-choice voting would be implemented in the regular local election in November of 2027 and would continue for all subsequent elections. Further, this Ordinance would direct the City Clerk to develop and administer an educational campaign to inform the public about the City’s transition to Ranked Choice Voting, explain how the system functions, and encourage voter understanding and participation. \r\n\r\nAnalysis: The Ordinance Whereas clauses emphasize that the status quo election system requires a candidate to receive the number of votes to equal or exceed 50% of the total number of votes cast for the office. In the event that a candidate does not receive this threshold, a runoff election must be held within 45 days between the two top candidates from the regular election. From this procedure, the City has been required to hold six runoff elections since the runoff provisions have been in place. The cost for each of these runoff elections have ranged from $368,675 (in 2019) to an estimated $1.6 million (in 2025). The Ordinance also emphasizes that other jurisdictions in New Mexico, including Las Cruces and Santa Fe, have adopted ranked-choice voting and that it is legal to do so by ordinance under state law.\r\n\r\nFiscal Impact: The Ordinance contemplates two fiscal impacts: (1) savings from no longer holding run-off elections, and (2) expenditures from the development and administration of ranked-choice voting campaign by the City Clerk. Although this Ordinance does not contemplate the cost of the educational campaign, it does note the expense of run-off elections which, consistent with the objectives of this bill, would be money saved going forward.\r\n\r\nKey Dates: There are no key dates in this bill aside from its effective date (“[t]his bill takes effect five days after publication by title and general summary”). \r\n\r\nComments: This Ordinance would amend a Charter provision. Charter amendments normally require either a P-Bill and Companion Resolution or a Charter provision that explicitly allows amendment by ordinance. However, in this instance, state statute allows for amendment of this Charter provision by ordinance. NMSA 1978, §1-22-16(C) (“[a] municipality whose laws provide for a runoff election shall conduct the election in the manner provided by the municipality's ordinance or charter; provided that a municipality may by ordinance choose between conducting a top-two runoff election and a ranked-choice runoff election. The ordinance shall be filed with the secretary of state no later than June 30 of the year the next regular local election is scheduled”) (emphasis added).","MatterEXText2":"Victor Hall","MatterEXText3":null,"MatterEXText4":null,"MatterEXText5":null,"MatterEXText6":null,"MatterEXText7":null,"MatterEXText8":null,"MatterEXText9":null,"MatterEXText10":null,"MatterEXText11":null,"MatterEXDate1":null,"MatterEXDate2":null,"MatterEXDate3":null,"MatterEXDate4":null,"MatterEXDate5":null,"MatterEXDate6":null,"MatterEXDate7":null,"MatterEXDate8":null,"MatterEXDate9":null,"MatterEXDate10":null,"MatterAgiloftId":0,"MatterReference":"27","MatterRestrictViewViaWeb":false,"MatterReports":[]}