Not sure what Iniative 83 is, what it would mean? Unclear on the pros and cons of the the Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative? It’s on the ballot during the Nov. 5 General Election and if it is approved by a majority of voters it would automatically become law. Here’s your chance to learn more about it.
A “yes” vote for Initiative 83 would the creation of a modified open primary allowing und voters to participate in primary elections, and establishes ranked-choice voting system for District elections starting in 2026. DC Code indicates that if the voters want it, it becomes law. However, initiatives have been invalidated by Congress and less frequently by DC Council. The latter voted to repeal the first tipped wage ballot measure, Initiative 77, in 2018.
On Sept. 23, The Ward 3 and Ward 6 Democrats hosted a discussion about the ballot measure. ists included Deirdre Brown from Vote No on I83 (against), Philip Pannell, Make All Votes Count (for) and Andrew Lightman, the Managing Editor of the Hill Rag.
Proponents of the measure argue that the measure would prevent candidates from winning without a majority of the vote. This is a particularly salient issue in races for the DC Council’s at-large seats, which typically have a long list of candidates (in 2020, 23 candidates ran for the two open seats; only one could be the Democractic nominee).
Two legal challenges to the initiative’s eligibility for the ballot were made in 2023. Both were dismissed by the courts.
At the forum, both sides presented their positions, after which the session moved to a question and answer discussion, with ists taking questions that were submitted in advance and then live from the audience through chat.
The questions primarily dealt with issues of how both ranked choice voting and semi-open primaries would work, should the ballot initiative . ists also addressed the reasoning behind the push for the two changes to DC voting practices, the reasoning for combining the two separate changes in one proposal and the potential downsides and drawbacks to making the change.
You can watch the forum above to get ready to vote on the ballot measure Nov. 5.
