Historic D.C. election meets ranked-choice voting
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A voting center at MLK Jr. Library. Photo: Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images
Tuesday's election will be like none other in city history.
Why it matters: The ballot feels like a super deluxe edition — open seats for mayor and D.C. delegate will do that, plus there's a dizzying array of council candidates.
- On top of that, it's a crash course in ranked-choice voting.
The big picture: Officials warn that the math required to determine winners in multiple-round, ranked-choice voting tabulations may stretch over several days.
- So it'll be a long night. Or several.
The wait is spawning some late jitters even for ranked-choice voting's most enthusiastic promoters.
- Asked whether she still supports ranked choice, Janeese Lewis George told reporters last week, "Everybody's just a little nervous about how long it will take."
- D.C.'s first foray into ranked choice was championed by progressives whom Lewis George hopes carry her over the line against Kenyan McDuffie.
How it works: After polls close Tuesday at 8pm, all in-person votes (early votes and election-day votes) will be reported in waves, along with mail-in ballots processed days prior.
- Only first-choice results will be reported Tuesday night, says the D.C. Board of Elections.
- With five other Democrats also vying for the mayoral nomination, it's likely that neither Lewis George nor McDuffie will clear the bar of 50% plus one vote in the first round of vote counting.
- A candidate winning a majority will likely require "round-by-round tabulation," the Board of Elections says, potentially stretching into next week.
- For results, see the Board of Elections website.
By the numbers: As of Sunday, nearly 59,600 votes had been cast.
Zoom in: Election-day vote centers are open Tuesday from 7am to 8pm.
- You can register Tuesday and use any polling station to cast your ballot.
Between the lines: Several candidates in D.C. Council races are using ranked choice to forge alliances, urging voters to consider ranking multiple candidates with similar viewpoints.
- No such alliance was formed in the bitter mayor's race, which, by the way, you can study up on with our voter guide.
The bottom line: Ballot counting may take a while, but D.C. will witness generational change by the end of this election cycle, with a new mayor, a new delegate to Congress, and potentially a handful of new council members.