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B26-0540 • 2025

Ranked Choice Voting Implementation Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Ranked Choice Voting Implementation Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

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 summary does not provide specific details on costs or funding, leaving these points as unknowns.

Clarifying Ranked Choice Voting for DC Elections

This bill changes the date when ranked choice voting must start in District of Columbia elections, setting it to begin after January 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes a law about when ranked choice voting should be used in DC elections.
  • Moves the start date for using ranked choice voting from June 2026 to after January 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Voters in District of Columbia elections
  • Election officials who run DC elections

Terms To Know

Ranked Choice Voting
A voting system where voters rank candidates by preference, allowing for the election of a winner with majority support.
Temporary Amendment Act
A law that changes an existing law but is set to expire after a certain period.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much it will cost or who will pay for the change.
  • It's unclear what happens if the Mayor vetoes this act and Congress doesn't override the veto.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  2. 2025-12-16 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  3. 2025-12-15 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0540 Introduced by Councilmember Bonds at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Ranked Choice Voting Implementation Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
1

___________________________ ________________________ 1
Councilmember Wendell Felder Councilmember Anita Bonds 2
3
A BILL 4
__________ 5
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7
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 8
____________________ 9
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To amend, on a temporary basis, section 8a of the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955 to 12
provide for the implementation of ranked choice voting beginning with the 2027 election 13
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 Temporary 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), a 30-day period of congressional review as 29

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provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 30
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 31
Columbia Register. 32
(b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect. 33