The opportunity for ranked choice voting in the 2024 Virginia General Assembly
The 2024 Virginia General Assembly kicked off on January 10, 2024, with four bills to expand ranked choice voting in Virginia up for consideration.
Ranked choice voting improves elections by allowing voters to rank candidates by order of preference. Instead of a single choice, it allows voters to more fully express their preference by ranking candidates — providing voters with more choices.
Ranked choice voting rewards candidates who build coalitions, rather than those who rely on a narrow base of voters. This results in representation that has majority support, a more representative government, less polarization, and less partisan gridlock.
This year, the Virginia legislature is considering the following bills on ranked choice voting:
Optional use of ranked choice voting in local elections
SB 428 (Vanvalkenburg) and HB 841 (Hope)
Building on HB 1103 (2020), this bill gives localities the option to adopt ranked choice voting for any local or constitutional office. Currently, localities can only adopt ranked choice voting for city council or county board of supervisors elections.
Gives localities the flexibility to tailor their use of ranked choice voting to the needs of their community. Local governing bodies can utilize ranked choice voting in any and all elections where it makes sense.
Clears up any confusion about application in localities where the mayor is a member of city council.
Optional use of ranked choice voting in primaries
HB 658 (Cole)
This bill offers political parties the option to use ranked choice voting in state-run primaries for legislative, statewide, congressional, or presidential elections. The decision to use ranked choice voting for a particular primary is made by the party.
Ranked choice voting does not apply in races with only two candidates.
Ranked choice voting elections require the winner to have support from a majority of voters. This process determines which candidate has the broadest appeal, which sets up a strong nominee for the general election.
Ranked choice voting disincentivizes negative campaigning, so nominees are not “battle-worn” entering the general election.
Includes provision for ELECT to say “we’re not ready” 90 days before the election.
Optional use of ranked choice voting in presidential primaries (starting in 2028)
SB 270 (Subramanyam)
This bill mirrors the above bill, but only applies to presidential primaries. This law would not be in effect for the 2024 presidential primaries.
Prevents wasted votes for candidates who drop out before Super Tuesday, especially helpful to military/overseas voters who have no choice but to vote by mail.
Compatible with a party’s preferred method of delegate allocation (proportional or winner-take-all).
Show your support for ranked choice voting in Virginia! Contact your representative and ask them to support ranked choice voting.
