DC Democrats Attempt to Block Citizen Initiative Proposing Ranked Choice Voting and Semi-Open Primaries in City Elections

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 14, 2023



Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

**Correction in today’s audio report**  The DC Elections Board approved the ballot measure to move forward in JULY, not June, as stated.  Sorry for the error! 

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

Democrats in the District of Columbia have sued the DC Elections Board to prevent a citizen ballot initiative proposing ranked choice voting and semi-open primaries, claiming it would violate the city charter, and confuse Black and Hispanic voters.  

News outlet DCist reports that the Make All Votes Count Act of 2024 was endorsed in July by the elections board to appear on the November 2024 ballot, provided the backers can collect signatures from 5% of all DC voters.

Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank a number of candidates in order of preference, allowing for options beyond just major party candidates.  If no candidate has a clear 50% majority, the last place candidate is eliminated and the votes recalculated, in a process which continues until a winner is declared.  In New York City – also a city with a high minority population – 78% of voters said they understood the RCV system “Very” or “Extremely” well, according to 2022 research by Unite America.

The Make All Votes Count Act also provides for partly open primaries, allowing DC’s almost 86,000 unaffiliated voters to vote in either a Democratic, Republican, or Statehood Green party primary.  Major party leaders perceive open primaries as an existential threat to power, despite its popularity with voters.

Arguments are scheduled for November 2023.  We have links to the ballot measure, analysis and RCV explainers at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Make All Votes Count DC – Text of “Make All Votes Count Act of 2024”
DCist – D.C. – Elections Board Gives Initial Green Light To Ballot Initiative On Ranked Choice Voting And Open Primaries

DCist – D.C. Democratic Party Sues To Keep Ranked Choice Voting And Open Primaries Off The Ballot
New York City Campaign Finance Board – (2022)  Report Highlights Ranked Choice Voting in 2021 Elections
Unite America – (2022) Two new reports on Ranked Choice Voting in NYC provide hope amidst a dismal primary season
The Hill – (Opinion) Could election reform in DC help conservatives embrace it nationwide?

FairVote – Explainer on How RCV Works

Bipartisan Policy Center – 2022 Primary Turnout: Trends and Lessons for Boosting Participation (Open Primaries are a recommendation)

Groups Taking Action:
Make All Votes Count DC, More Voice DC, Rank the Vote, Open Primaries, Fair Vote Action


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