Ranked Choice Voting Implementation Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Budget Elections

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Bonds
Last action: 2025-12-16
Official status: Under Council Review
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill status shows 'Under Council Review' and has not yet been approved by the Mayor or made permanent.

Ranked Choice Voting Implementation Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This bill changes the law to start ranked choice voting in District of Columbia elections beginning with the first election held after January 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

Amends section 8a of the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955 on an emergency basis.
Removes the phrase that set ranked choice voting to begin with the June 2026 primary election.
Inserts a new date requiring implementation for the first election held after January 1, 2027.
Adopts a fiscal impact statement prepared by the Budget Director.

Who It Names or Affects

The Council of the District of Columbia
Voters in the District of Columbia participating in elections starting with the first election held after January 1, 2027

Limits and Unknowns

This act shall remain in effect no longer than 90 days as an emergency act.
The text does not explain how the voting process will change beyond setting a new start date.

Bill History

2025-12-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Legislative Meeting
2025-12-15 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
B26-0539 Introduced by Councilmember Bonds at Office of the Secretary
2025-12-15 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Retained by the Council

Official Summary Text

Ranked Choice Voting Implementation Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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__________________________ ________________________ 1
Councilmember Wendell Felder Councilmember Anita Bonds 2
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A BILL 4
__________ 5
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 8
____________________ 9
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To amend, on an emergency basis, section 8a of the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955 12
to provide for the implementation of ranked choice voting beginning with the 2027 13
election cycle. 14
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 16
act may be cited as the “Ranked Choice Voting Implementation Clarification Emergency 17
Amendment Act of 2025”. 18
Sec. 2. Section 8a of the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955, effective March 7, 19
2025 (69 Stat. 699; D.C. Official Code § § 1-1001.08a), is amended by striking the phrase “June 20
2026 primary election” and inserting the phrase “first election held after January 1, 2027” in its 21
place. 22
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 23
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of Budget Director as the fiscal impact 24
statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved 25
October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 26
Sec. 4. Effective date. 27
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 28
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and shall remain in effect no longer than 90-29

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days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section 412(a) 30
of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; D.C. 31
Official Code § § 1-204.12(a)). 32