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____________________________ ________________________ 1
Councilmember Wendell Felder Councilmember Anita Bonds 2
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A PROPOSED RESOLUTION 5
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 8
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To amend, on an emergency basis, Section 8a of the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955 11
to provide for the implementation of ranked choice voting beginning with the 2027 12
election cycle. 13
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RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 15
resolution may be cited as “Ranked Choice Voting Implementation Clarification Emergency 16
Declaration Resolution of 2025”. 17
Sec. 2. (a) The purpose of this emergency is to provide the Board of Elections with 18
additional time to properly and successfully implement ranked choice voting in the District of 19
Columbia. This emergency speaks to the preparedness of the District to implement, for the first 20
time, the ranked choice voting model in the June 2026 election. 21
(b) This emergency is necessary to mitigate legal risks for the District. A 22
comprehensive plan is imperative in implementing any new system. This minimizes harm and 23
ensures that vulnerable District communities are protected and are not disenfranchised by a new 24
voting system. 25
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(c) There is not enough funding available or resources specifically dedicated to 26
educating populations about the complexities of this new voting process. Voters must understand 27
the ranking process, how to mark ballots correctly, and how their votes will be tabulated. 28
(d) It is particularly concerning that the Board of Elections, during a November 24, 2025 29
roundtable, could not definitely commit to conducting sufficient outreach to District residents 30
before the June 2026 primary. On multiple occasions, Executive Director Monica Evans and 31
General Counsel Terri Stroud compared their implementation of ranked choice voting in June 32
2026 as working “a miracle” and stated that it would not be the first time the Board has “been 33
asked to the impossible.” 34
(e) It is clear that six months is not enough time to prepare to implement and execute any 35
new large-scale process that will have an impact on thousands of District residents. Thorough 36
preparation ensures equitable treatment across all affected individuals. Inadequate implementation 37
can subject District residents to inconsistent outcomes, unequal access, and potentially 38
discriminatory effects. 39
(e) Moreover, the lack of a concrete outreach plan from the Board has created an 40
extremely dangerous situation leading to the rise of purported ranked choice voting “training 41
sessions” for residents conducted by unvetted third parties. This means that potentially biased 42
groups are setting up events to train the public on how to fill our ranked choice voting ballots 43
instead of the official entity responsible for conducting the elections. If implementation is flawed, 44
structural issues and inequities will likely be imbedded in the District’s voting process, creating 45
negative precedents impacting District residents. The prioritization of speed over preparedness 46
undermines trust and fairness in the elections process. 47
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(f) Ultimately, the District will benefit from having sufficient time and resources to 48
educate the voters and implement ranked choice voting. Proper preparation and execution are 49
necessary to safeguard voters, uphold fairness, maintain legitimacy, mitigate legal risks, and 50
prevent harmful precedents that can have lasting impact. 51
Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances in 52
section 2 constitute emergency circumstances, making in necessary that the “Ranked Choice 53
Voting Implementation Clarification Declaration Resolution of 2025” be adopted on an 54
emergency basis. 55
Sec. 4. The resolution shall take effect immediately. 56