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Supporters of bringing ranked-choice voting to D.C. elections delivered more than 40,000 signatures for a ballot initiative to the Board of Elections in Navy Yard on Monday. If approved, Initiative 83 would open up primaries to thousands of registered independents, currently unable to participate, and implement ranked-choice voting to ensure the winner receives over 50% of the vote. Lisa D.T. Rice, a Ward 7 advisory neighborhood commissioner who spearheaded the initiative, emphasized the need for full democracy and accountability in D.C.

Rice highlighted the recent Ward 7 council race where the winner only received 23.7% of the vote under the current system, making a case for the benefits of ranked-choice voting. However, the movement faces opposition from Mayor Muriel E. Bowser, who labeled it a “bad idea”, and the D.C. Democratic Party, which filed a lawsuit to block the initiative.

Despite the challenges and opposition, supporters remain optimistic and committed to the cause. Rice pointed to the positive response from voters during the signature collection process and noted the importance of the initiative in ensuring that all voters have a voice in D.C. elections.

The fate of Initiative 83 now rests in the hands of the Board of Elections, who will determine if enough valid signatures were collected for the ballot initiative to proceed. If successful, voters will have the opportunity to make significant changes to D.C. elections during the November election.

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