Federal Bill Bans Ranked Choice Voting in D.C. Elections, Overriding Local Control

This bill, officially titled the District of Columbia One Vote One Choice Act, does exactly what it says: it forces D.C. elections back to a single-choice system by explicitly banning Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). This prohibition covers every election held in the District—from local council seats to federal offices, and even ballot initiatives and referendums. The bill doesn't just ask D.C. to stop using RCV; it amends the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, inserting this ban as a new Section 305 and making it a matter of federal law. This move effectively uses federal power to dictate how D.C. residents can cast their ballots.

The End of Ranking: What This Means for Voters

For D.C. residents, this bill shuts the door on a specific type of electoral reform. Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference (1st choice, 2nd choice, etc.), which is often seen as a way to ensure the winner has broader support and to reduce the 'spoiler effect' where a vote for a third-party candidate feels wasted. By banning RCV (SEC. 2), the bill mandates a return to the traditional plurality system, where the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they don't reach 50%. If you were a D.C. voter who liked the idea of ranking your choices to better express your preferences, this bill removes that option entirely, forcing you back to the 'one vote, one choice' model.

Federal Intervention vs. Local Autonomy

One of the biggest takeaways here isn't just the ban on RCV, but how it’s being implemented. Instead of letting D.C. handle its own election rules—which is usually the norm for local jurisdictions—this bill amends a major piece of federal election law (the Help America Vote Act) to enforce the change. This is a clear case of federal preemption, where Congress is stepping in to override the local government's authority over its own election administration. For D.C. residents, this reinforces the reality that their local political choices can be overturned by Congress, a dynamic that advocates for D.C. statehood often cite as a major concern. It shifts the power to decide local election mechanics away from the D.C. Council and places it firmly in the hands of federal lawmakers.

The Practical Impact: Simplicity vs. Choice

On one hand, supporters of this kind of ban might argue that it simplifies the voting process, ensuring that D.C. elections stick to a familiar, easily understood framework. They might say that RCV is too complex or confusing for the average voter. However, the practical challenge for D.C. voters is the restriction of choice. RCV is often championed by groups seeking electoral reform and broader voter expression. By eliminating this system, the bill limits the tools available to D.C. residents and advocacy groups who want to modernize how their elections run. This is especially relevant in local elections where crowded fields are common; RCV is designed to handle those situations by ensuring the eventual winner has majority support, something traditional plurality voting can't guarantee.