Modification of County Commissioner Elections

Currently, in a county with a population of 70,000 or more, the board of county commissioners (board) may consist of 3 or 5 commissioners. If the board consists of 3 commissioners, the county is divided into 3 districts, with one commissioner elected from each district by voters in the district or 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, at large, or by some combination of both methods.

The bill eliminates this discretionary system and instead requires any county with a population of 70,000 or more (covered county) to elect 5 commissioners by one of the following 2 methods:

• 5 commissioners resident in 5 districts elected only by voters resident in those districts; or
• 5 commissioners elected at large using a ranked voting method.

The board of a covered county is required to adopt a resolution designating the 2 alternative methods of electing the 5 county commissioners no later than its first regularly scheduled meeting in the calendar year 2027 or its first regularly scheduled meeting in the month following becoming a covered county. The board is required to refer the resolution to the electors of the county at the first general election following its adoption for those electors to select their preferred method of electing the 5 commissioners. A covered county that already elects its commissioners according to one of the 2 alternative methods of election is not required to pass a resolution.

A home rule county that elects more than half of its county commissioners by district or using a ranked voting method is exempt from the requirements of the bill.

The bill also makes conforming amendments.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)