Let’s make all votes count in DC!
We can change the game and make politicians work for everyone.
We’re a group of neighbors starting the process of letting DC residents vote on whether to make all votes count in DC. This initiative, if we get on the ballot and neighbors vote to approve it, would implement ranked choice voting and end voter disenfranchisement for nearly 75,000 independent voters in DC.
Read below for more on what Ballot Initiative #83 would do if passed, and more about ranked choice voting and opening the primaries to independent voters.

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WHY RANKED CHOICE VOTING?
When the ballots are counted, if a candidate receives more than half of the first choices, that candidate wins.
However, if no candidate gets more than half the first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is removed. If you picked that candidate first, then your vote goes to your next choice. You only have to rank your choices once – this counting process continues automatically until a candidate wins with more than 50% of the vote.
Ranked Choice Voting is already used for statewide elections in Alaska and Maine, and local elections in more than 50 cities and counties including New York City; San Francisco; Takoma Park, Maryland; Arlington, Virginia; and Oakland, California.
Ranked Choice Voting Has Proven Results:
- Elects more women and people of color
- It reduces strategic voting and pressure to vote for the ‘devil you know’.
- Ranking is natural and easy to understand.
- Helps reduce toxic or negative campaigning
- Makes city-wide politicians have to campaign beyond their base and across the city, forcing them to go East of the River to build broad coalitions.
- Ranking preserves Native Washingtonian voting power and combats political displacement by letting communities vote for backup choices without harming their first choice. When they implemented ranked voting in Oakland, CA, Black representation was maintained despite severe gentrification and population loss.
- Candidates have to build a coalition that includes 1st and 2nd choices (you can’t win with only 2nd choice votes).

WHY OPEN UP DC’S PRIMARY ELECTIONS TO INDEPENDENT VOTERS?
The District of Columbia has what are called “Closed” Primary Elections. Only voters registered with a political party can vote in the Primary Election.
Currently there are nearly 75,000 (16%) independent voters in the District of Columbia who do not belong to a political party. This excludes these voters from being able to participate in DC’s most contested election: the Primary Election.
This amounts to voter suppression and we can change this by opening up DC’s primary elections to ALL registered voters.
Opening the primaries to independent voters will allow the 2nd largest voting bloc in DC to participate in primary elections of their choice for all offices other than party offices. It will not allow voters that are members of existing political parties to vote in a different party’s primary election.
Here’s how it would work: Prior to a Primary Election, independent voters would contact the DC Board of Elections and choose a party to vote in for that election. When the voter receives their ballot in the mail or show up to vote, their ballot will be for whichever party they have choosen for that election cycle.
Latest from the Campaign:
PRESS RELEASE: DC Board of Elections Determines The Make All Votes Count Act of 2024 is Proper Subject Matter
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, July 21, 2023 CONTACT: Nikolas Schiller 202-643-3878 Press@MakeAllVotesCountDC.org DC Board of Elections Determines The Make All Votes Count Act of 2024 is Proper Subject Matter Decision Creates Ballot Initiative #83 WASHINGTON, DC —...
PRESS RELEASE: Supporters of the Make All Votes Count Act of 2024 to Testify at DCBOE Subject Matter Determination Hearing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, July 17, 2023 CONTACT: Nikolas Schiller 202-643-3878 Press@MakeAllVotesCountDC.org Supporters of the Make All Votes Count Act of 2024 to Testify at DCBOE Subject Matter Determination Hearing Fate of Ballot Initiative and Ability to...
Statement on Rep. Lawler’s Anti-Ranked Choice Voting Legislation
Below is the official statement from Lisa D. T. Rice, the proposer of the ballot initiative, an ANC commissioner, and registered independent voter: "The purpose of the Make All Votes Count Act of 2024 is to let DC voters decide whether to make it easier to hold our...
Statement Concerning Resubmission of Legislative Text
Statement from Lisa D. T. Rice, ANC commissioner and Proposer of the Make All Votes Act of 2024: "On Friday, June 16, 2023, based on the advisory opinions the campaign has received from the Office of General Counsel of the District Council and the Office of the...