Ranked Choice Voting Bill Clears Senate Finance Committee
A full Senate vote is expected early next week.
Richmond, VA — Legislation to expand ranked choice voting options for local elections cleared the Senate Finance committee today on a 10-4 vote. The vote followed a report from the Department of Planning and Budget, which found the measure would have no fiscal impact on the state budget and the Department of Elections considered its implementation "routine".
The bill (SB1009) would allow cities, counties, and towns to use ranked choice voting in elections for all local offices, including mayors, school boards, and town councils. Under current law, localities may only use ranked choice voting to elect city councils and county boards.
Demand for expanded local authority was highlighted just yesterday at an Arlington County Board meeting, where officials reflected on their 2024 election using ranked choice voting. Board Member Susan Cunningham noted that residents often ask why the County now uses separate methods to elect its County Board and School Board and expressed a preference for aligning methods for all local offices. "We don't yet have the permission to do that," said Cunningham. "If we did, it would make sense to do things all one way or the other."
Arlington has used ranked choice voting in County Board elections since 2023, and Charlottesville will use ranked choice to elects its city council for the first time this June. Several other Virginia communities are exploring adoption for their local elections, as well.
The legislation now heads to the Senate floor for consideration by the full body. The Senate must act on the bill before the February 4 crossover deadline, when each chamber must complete work on its own bills.
