Last night, Charlottesville City Council passed the ordinance that will bring ranked choice voting to Council elections starting next year. The final vote was 4-1 with Mayor Wade and Councilors Oschrin, Payne, and Pinkston supporting. We owe them all our thanks for believing in diverse democracy and taking this critical step. Charlottesville is joining 50 cities and counties nationwide in using ranked choice voting, and City residents are proud to be joining their ranks.
In the year ahead, Ranked Choice Virginia will work closely with City leaders to ensure that voters understand the shift and are ready to rank their candidates next June. In the meantime, you might send a quick thank you to council@charlottesville.gov. Their ongoing support will play a big role in shaping public sentiment as voters adjust to the change next spring, and we want them to be proud ranked choice champions! Their leadership will build momentum for RCV across Virginia, and they should know that voters near and far are grateful for their work.
We'll be sure to keep you posted on the progress near you. For now, we're celebrating this major milestone and all the help that made it happen. Charlottesville has long been proud to be a cradle of democracy, and embracing ranked choice voting is the next step in living out that legacy.
