Governor Vetoes Ranked Choice Bill Despite Successful Local Pilots

Richmond, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed legislation yesterday that would have made technical improvements to Virginia's ranked choice voting statute. The bill (SB1009) contained clarifications for election administrators regarding audits, recounts, and equipment testing — all recommendations from a report issued by the administration's own Department of Elections in November 2023. The legislation passed by the General Assembly would have provided clearer guidance to localities already using ranked choice voting (RCV) without expanding RCV to more offices or elections.

"Before further codifying RCV procedures, more data is needed on its impact and benefits," said the Governor's formal veto statement issued on March 24. "Establishing additional statutory requirements at this stage risks institutionalizing a system that has yet to prove its effectiveness in broader elections."

To date, Arlington County has conducted three ranked choice elections and the County Board recently extended its RCV program through 2025. In June, Charlottesville will join Arlington as the second Virginia locality to use ranked choice in its local elections.

"The Governor's rationale ignores the growing body of evidence from Arlington's successful ranked choice pilots and requests for clarity from the Governor's own agency staff" said Sally Hudson, Executive Director of Ranked Choice Virginia and a former state delegate who authored Virginia's existing RCV statute. "Ranked choice voting is far from unproven and has already demonstrated concrete benefits right here in Virginia."

The Arlington County Board recently reviewed data and staff reports from its first three ranked choice elections at a February Board meeting:

• Arlington Registrar Gretchen Reinemeyer reported that voters understood the system and that "most voters did not require assistance beyond the basic explanation offered."
• Voter participation in County Board elections has remained steady since 2020, with no signs that ranked choice voting has deterred turnout in County Board races.
• Ranked choice voting has helped increase diversity in representation on the County Board. Since adopting RCV, Arlington voters have elected two women and one Black member to the Board.

County Board candidates have also reported more substantive, engaged debate on the campaign trail. "Ranked choice voting improves civility and connection during the campaign by encouraging candidates to appeal to a broader audience," said Board Member Susan Cunningham, who was elected in Arlington's first ranked choice race in 2023. "Instead of engaging only the voters most likely to support each candidate, we seek to discuss policy details with all voters to attract second and third choice votes from other candidates. And ultimately this leads to better policy and representation after the campaign. The winning candidates has effectively engaged with a broader audience," said Cunningham.

While Arlington provides compelling local evidence, its positive pilots aren't unique to Virginia. "Our local experience mirrors what we know from data spanning more than 800 RCV elections in the US over the last 20 years," said Meredith Sumpter, an Arlington resident and CEO of the national election reform advocacy organization FairVote, in testifying before the Arlington County Board last month. "Where RCV is in use: voters understand and want to continue using it."

The Governor's veto will not affect the continued use of ranked choice voting where it has already been adopted. Charlottesville will proceed with Virginia's latest ranked choice election in its June City Council primary. Other Virginia communities can also continue exploring RCV adoption, including Falls Church and Loudoun County.

"We're disappointed by the Governor's decision to reject these common-sense requests for clarity from his own elections staff," Hudson added. "But we'll continue supporting localities as they implement ranked choice voting. With each RCV election, more voters see the benefits firsthand, and public support continues to grow. After Charlottesville's primary in June, we'll have even more evidence of RCV's success in Virginia."