D.C.'s big elections decision: Ranked-choice voting and open primaries
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A new ballot initiative this November will decide whether to open up D.C.'s primaries to independent voters and institute ranked-choice voting.
Why it matters: Initiative 83 would bring a sea change to the electoral process, and it's facing fierce opposition from the city's Democratic establishment.
How it works: If approved, D.C. voters deciding on a race will be allowed to rank up to five candidates in the order of their preference.
- That ensures one candidate will gain at least 50% of electoral support.
D.C. primary elections will also be partially opened up, allowing voters who aren't registered members of a political party to cast ballots in the often-decisive Democratic primary.
- There are about 75,000 registered "no party" voters.
Catch up quick: The D.C. Board of Elections last Friday gave the green light to place the initiative on the November ballot after the I-83 campaign turned in over 40,000 signatures to qualify.
What they're saying: Supporters say the process will eliminate vote splitting and require candidates to appeal to a broader coalition to gain at least 50% of support.
- "Politicians would work harder for every vote," says the group leading the I-83 campaign known as Make All Votes Count DC.
The other side: Opponents of ranked-choice voting — in effect in New York City and Arlington, Va., — often have argued that introducing a novel voting method will confuse the electorate.
- The D.C. Democratic Party filed a lawsuit pending in the appeals court, to block the initiative. Party chair Charles Wilson tells Axios that the initiative should not move forward because ballot initiatives that compel the D.C. Council to enact new spending on a program are not permitted.
Between the lines: If it passes, the D.C. Council could stymie the initiative by overturning it.