Ranked Choice Voting in DC
DC voters approved Ranked Choice Voting in November 2024. Here's everything Ward 2 residents need to know before casting their ballot.
What Is Ranked Choice Voting?
Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is a voting method where you rank candidates in order of preference — 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice, up to 5th choice. In 2024, DC voters passed Initiative 83 with roughly 73% support, bringing RCV to the District. The DC Council funded it in the FY2026 budget.
Beginning with the June 2026 Primary Election, RCV will be used in eligible contests that have three or more candidates. RCV allows your vote to transfer to another candidate you support if your first choice is eliminated — so your voice continues to count throughout the entire process.
How Ranked Choice Voting Works
Counting begins after polls close. All first-choice votes are tallied first. Here's what happens from there:
All first-choice votes are tallied
If any candidate reaches the threshold needed to win, they are declared the winner immediately — no further rounds needed.
If no winner, the last-place candidate is eliminated
Voters whose top choice was eliminated have their vote automatically transferred to their next ranked candidate still in the race.
Votes are re-tallied and rounds continue
The process repeats — lowest vote-getter eliminated each round — until a candidate reaches the winning threshold.
A winner is declared
Final certified results may take up to 10 days after Election Day, as all mail ballots must be received and processed first.
How Votes Transfer Round by Round
A simplified example of how votes move across rounds in a four-candidate race:
How to Mark Your RCV Ballot
DC's RCV ballot has columns for 1st through 5th choice. Fill in the oval next to your chosen candidate in each column — one oval per column, one oval per candidate.
✓ Do This
- Mark exactly one oval in each column you use
- Rank candidates in order, most to least preferred
- You can rank as few as one candidate
- Use each column for a different candidate
- Write-in candidates can be ranked too
✗ Avoid This
- Don't mark more than one candidate per column (overvote)
- Don't rank the same candidate twice
- Don't skip rankings (e.g., 1st and 3rd, skipping 2nd)
- Don't rank candidates you don't support
Which Offices Use RCV?
RCV applies in DC to any contest with three or more candidates for any of these positions:
Practice Your Ballot
Try marking a sample RCV ballot below. Click the ovals to fill them in — one per row and one per column!
| Candidate | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate A | ||||
| Candidate B | ||||
| Candidate C | ||||
| Candidate D |
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You can vote for just your 1st choice. But ranking additional candidates doesn't hurt your first choice — it just gives your vote somewhere to go if your top pick is eliminated. Only rank candidates you'd actually support.
No. Only one vote counts per race. Your 2nd (or later) choice is only considered if your 1st choice has already been eliminated. Your ballot represents one vote throughout the entire process.
Your ballot becomes "exhausted" only if every candidate you ranked has been eliminated. Ranking all the way to 5th choice keeps your ballot active through more rounds and gives it a better chance to contribute to the outcome.
Ties are extremely unlikely. If one does occur, it is resolved "by lot" — the Chairperson of the DC Board of Elections (or their designee) will flip a coin.
Results can take up to 10 days after Election Day to be finalized, as all mail ballots must be received and counted before tabulation is complete.
Your ballot isn't thrown out for one error. Rankings are processed from 1st to 5th, and all valid rankings up to the point of an error are counted. You can also ask for a replacement ballot at your polling location before submitting.
DC voters chose RCV through Initiative 83 in November 2024, which passed with approximately 73% of the vote. RCV ensures winners have broader support, reduces "lesser of two evils" voting, and gives voters a stronger voice in races with many candidates.