In November 2024, D.C. voters approved a ballot initiative to implement ranked-choice voting (RCV) beginning this June. Despite some debate over timing and readiness, RCV is definitely happening in the upcoming election, and voters must be educated about the process. 

RCV allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference instead of choosing just one, ensuring winners have broader support. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the first round of counting, the lowest-performing candidates are eliminated, and their votes are redistributed until a candidate surpasses 50 percent. Here’s a nifty video from the Washington Post on the mechanics of this process. 

As D.C. implements RCV, concerns remain about whether all voters will have the information and support needed to navigate the new ballot. Without clear, targeted voter education, the new format risks creating confusion and unintentionally disadvantaging communities that have historically faced barriers to participation.

Pick your 1st choice candidate and fill in the oval completely next to their name under the “1st” column. If you wish, rank a second choice by filling in the oval next to that candidate under the “2nd” column, and do the same for a 3rd, 4th, and 5th choice. You do not have to rank every candidate, and ranking additional candidates will not harm your first choice. You may also cast a write-in vote for an eligible write-in candidate. Be sure not to give more than one candidate the same ranking, not to rank a candidate more than once, and not to skip a ranking (ex., skipping 1st to 3rd)

Use the D.C. Board of Elections’ Interactive Ballot right here and learn more by attending upcoming ranked-choice voting information sessions.