On November 5, voters in the District of Columbia approved a voter initiative to implement ranked choice voting in primary and general elections and to allow for open primary elections.

The ballot measure, Initiative 83, entitled the “Ranked Choice Voting and Open the Primary Elections to Independent Voters Act of 2024,” implements ranked choice voting to allow voters to rank up to five candidates according to their preference in each contest for any office, other than for political party offices.

The measure also permits any voter who is not registered with a political party to vote in the primary election of that voter’s choosing for all offices, again, other than for political party offices.

Ranked choice voting begins with the June 2026 primary election and remains in effect for all subsequent elections.

It will apply to any primary, special, and general election involving three or more qualified candidates.

This Initiative will not be implemented unless the D.C. Council separately chooses to appropriate funds for the projected costs.