House Committee Amends Ranked Choice Voting Bill
Technical provisions advance, leaving local authority unchanged.
Richmond, VA — The House subcommittee on Election Administration voted 5-3 today to advance a narrowed ranked choice voting bill (SB1009). The bill's initial draft would have expanded local authority to conduct ranked choice elections to all local offices, including mayor and school board. The amended bill maintains current office restrictions — which limit ranked choice to city council and county board races — while adding several technical clarifications regarding audits, recounts, and equipment testing.
The revised legislation will assist election administrators in communities that have already adopted ranked choice voting. Arlington has used ranked choice to elect its County Board since 2023, and Charlottesville will conduct its first ranked choice election for City Council this June. The bill will not, however, address growing calls from local elected officials to expand their ranked choice authority.
The amended legislation now advances to the full House Privileges and Elections Committee for consideration.
