COUNCILMEMBER FELDER INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE RANKED CHOICE VOTING NEEDS ASSESSMENT 

New emergency legislation would require Board of Elections to conduct comprehensive needs assessment to ensure District’s readiness for implementing ranked choice voting 

Washington, DC – On Tuesday, Councilmember Felder introduced emergency legislation to require the Board of Elections (BOE) to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to ensure the District’s institutional readiness for implementing ranked choice voting (RCV). The needs assessment would analyze voter awareness and public perceptions of the ranked choice voting system, assess the equity and access implications of ranked choice voting for historically marginalized communities, review best practices and implementation experiences from other jurisdictions, and require the Board to submit a report to the Mayor and the Council. The report would include a RCV implementation plan, a full cost model, an operational timeline with critical milestones and a comprehensive voter outreach and education plan. 

“I am grateful to the Board of Elections for joining us at yesterday’s public roundtable to answer our questions on ranked choice voting and the work they have done thus far to prepare District voters for this change, and I appreciate their transparency in sharing their current shortcomings and needs,” said Councilmember Felder. “Honoring the will of the voters means protecting voter access, voter understanding, and voter confidence — especially for communities that have historically been disenfranchised in our election systems. Based on what I heard yesterday, I do not feel confident that the DC BOE is ready for a responsible and successful implementation of RCV in June 2026, In order to reach that place with RCV, more work needs to be done. That’s why I’m introducing this legislation today and I call on my colleagues to join me in this effort to ensure that RCV is implemented responsibly, equitably, and in a way that truly strengthens our democracy.” 

“Let me be clear—this legislation is not designed to delay the voice of the people,” Councilmember Felder continued. “The people spoke when they passed Initiative 83, and I look forward to the implementation of RCV as soon as possible. However, as a legislator, my job is to make sure that any new policies have the time and resources to be implemented right—not in a way that causes harm or erodes public trust in our electoral system.” 

Implementing RCV requires a complete transformation of how we design ballots, educate the public, train poll workers, communicate results, and build trust—especially in marginalized communities. In jurisdictions where RCV has been successfully introduced, election authorities launched public education campaigns over a year before the first election and dedicated separate strategies for seniors, low-literacy residents, ESL voters, incarcerated and returning citizens, and residents with limited civic access. 

At yesterday’s roundtable, it was made apparent that the BOE needs more time and resources to sufficiently plan for the implementation of RCV. Further, they are behind on key readiness indicators such as public education, ballot usability, tabulation testing, legal/regulatory readiness, and poll worker training. Specifically, as of yesterday, there is no active public-facing education, no finalized regulations, no sample ballots in circulation, no community comprehension testing, and no confirmed assurance that voters — especially seniors, disabled residents, ESL speakers, or voters in historically disenfranchised wards — can successfully use a ranked ballot in June 2026. 

This legislation will provide the BOE with the necessary time and opportunity to ensure that RCV can be implemented in a way that is responsible, successful, equitable, and truly honors the will of the voters and the passage of I-83. 

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