Ballot Initiative 83 also implements ranked choice voting for all elections
Washington, D.C. voters have voted to abolish their closed party primary system, which denied independents the right to participate in consequential elections. According to the DC Board of Elections, Ballot Initiative 83 led by a margin of 72%-28%.
“This is a huge victory for all DC voters — but especially the more-than-75,000 independents who, prior to tonight, had no meaningful say in their representation,” said Unite America Executive Director Nick Troiano. “Because of the tireless work of Make All Votes Count DC Campaign Leader Lisa Rice, tax-paying citizens in the District will no longer be denied the right to vote in the most consequential elections. And politicians will have to earn a majority vote to win.”
Beginning in 2026, independent voters in DC will have the right to participate in the party primary of their choosing. Ranked choice voting will also be implemented in primaries, general elections, and special elections to ensure a majority winner.
DC’s closed primary election system has been defined by a lack of competition and dominated by a small percentage of voters. A majority of the current city council has won at least one primary without garnering majority support. Because of the city’s strong Democratic lean, nearly all elections are decided in Democratic primaries. Independents, who make up about one in six voters, are unable to vote in these determinative primaries. Ballot Initiative 83 directly addresses this “Primary Problem” by giving every independent voter in the District the right to vote in primaries and ensuring candidates secure a majority of the vote to take office.
“This victory reflects the growing momentum for electoral reforms across the country. We applaud the 40,000 DC voters who signed petitions to qualify open primaries for the ballot, and the 174,000 voters so far who ultimately cast ballots to ensure that every eligible voter has the right to participate in elections that their taxes fund,” added Troiano. “Unite America looks forward to supporting the successful implementation of open primaries in DC by 2026.”
