Federal Bill Aims to Ban Ranked-Choice Voting Across All DC Elections

This proposed legislation, the "District of Columbia One Vote One Choice Act," seeks to put a stop to the use of ranked-choice voting (RCV) within the District of Columbia. If enacted, Section 2 of the bill would explicitly prohibit DC from implementing RCV for any election held within its borders – this includes races for federal office (like its Delegate), local positions (Mayor, Council), and even decisions on ballot initiatives or referendums. The bill also makes technical changes to the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to align with this prohibition.

One Prescribed Path for DC Voters?

Ranked-choice voting, where voters rank candidates in order of preference, is off the table under this proposal. The core impact here is straightforward: DC would be legally barred from adopting this specific electoral system, regardless of whether local residents or their elected officials might prefer it. This means voters would stick to the traditional method of choosing only one candidate per race, eliminating the possibility for voters to express backup preferences, which is the hallmark of RCV systems.

Local Elections, Federal Mandate

The bill raises questions about the District's authority over its own electoral processes. By imposing a federal ban on a specific voting method, it essentially overrides local decision-making on how DC residents cast their ballots. This directly impacts not just voters who might favor RCV, but also local advocacy groups pushing for electoral reforms they believe could enhance representation or participation. It could potentially make it harder for independent or third-party candidates, who sometimes see RCV as offering a more viable path to election by capturing voters' second or third choices.

Sticking with Tradition vs. Blocking Options

On one hand, the bill ensures DC sticks with a voting system that is familiar to most people, avoiding the learning curve or potential confusion sometimes associated with implementing RCV. However, the flip side is that it prevents the District from experimenting with or choosing an alternative system that proponents argue can lead to less polarized campaigns and results that better reflect the electorate's broader preferences. By mandating a single approach, the legislation limits the options available to DC for structuring its own democratic processes.