Supporters of a major change to D.C. elections delivered over 40,000 signatures to the Board of Elections for a ballot initiative to implement ranked-choice voting and allow registered independents to vote in primaries. If approved by voters in November, Initiative 83 could open up D.C. primaries to thousands of additional voters and change how votes are tabulated on election night. Currently, over 70,000 registered independents are unable to participate in any primaries, including the decisive Democratic primary.
The movement is led by Lisa D.T. Rice, who emphasized the need for full democracy in D.C. and the importance of ranked-choice voting to hold politicians accountable and enfranchise those who have been disenfranchised. Rice pointed to a recent Ward 7 council member election, where the winner received only 23.7 percent of the vote in a crowded field, as evidence of the need for ranked-choice voting.
However, the initiative faces opposition from Mayor Muriel E. Bowser and the D.C. Democratic Party, who do not support ranked-choice voting and believe only registered Democrats should participate in a Democratic primary. The party has filed a lawsuit to block the initiative, arguing that it violates their rights to freely associate with a political party.
Despite the opposition, supporters are determined to move forward with the initiative. The next steps in the ballot initiative process remain uncertain, as the legal battle continues. If successful, Initiative 83 could bring significant changes to D.C. elections and increase voter participation in the primaries.
Source
Photo credit www.washingtonpost.com