SF459 prohibits the use of ranked choice voting (RCV) and instant runoff voting (IRV) in state and local elections.

The Iowa State Senate passed SF459 on March 19, 2025 by a vote of 34 to 13. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because RCV undermines election integrity and the electorate’s ability to choose the best candidate. By design, RCV favors moderate-to-leftist candidates who often fail to uphold the Constitution. This complex, multi-round system can result in winners who lack true plurality support and imposes ballot-marking requirements that may pressure voters to act against their conscience. States should firmly reject all attempts to implement this unconstitutional voting method.