Bill > B26-0515

This bill requires the District of Columbia Board of Elections to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment for implementing Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) by January 1, 2027. The assessment must include an institutional readiness review examining the Board's capacity to implement RCV, including evaluating ballot design, vote tabulation systems, staff training, necessary system upgrades, and projected implementation costs. The Board must develop proposed regulations for RCV, covering areas such as ballot structure, ranking limits, and tabulation procedures. The assessment also requires a public knowledge evaluation to measure voter awareness, with a specific focus on populations with limited English proficiency, seniors, and communities with low civic engagement. Additionally, the bill mandates an equity and access impact analysis to assess potential effects on historically underrepresented communities, and a best practices review examining implementation strategies from other jurisdictions. Upon completing the assessment, the Board must submit a report to the Mayor and Council that includes an RCV implementation plan, a phased implementation timeline, and a comprehensive outreach and education plan. Critically, the bill stipulates that the Board cannot implement any new voting policies or election system modifications without first conducting this comprehensive needs assessment and submitting a detailed implementation plan.

Government Affairs

https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0515