Washington lawmakers are attempting to implement ranked choice voting in local elections. The system allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, potentially leading to a more representative outcome. HB 1448, the bill proposing this change, is currently in its early stages, having its first public hearing. Supporters argue it encourages broader voter participation and fairer elections, while some critics raise concerns about its complexity and effectiveness.
is looking to shake things up by introducing ranked choice voting to local elections. An attempt to implement ranked choice voting failed during the 2024 legislative session, but democratic lawmakers have brought it back, hoping the second time is the charm.
HB 1448 would start statewide on July 24 if passed by the Legislature. It had its first public hearing in front of the House State Government & Tribal Relations on Tuesday.Instead of being forced to choose just one candidate — sometimes out of fear their favorite “can’t win” — voters can rank candidates with a first, second and third-place vote. If nobody gets more than 50% of the first-choice votes, the lowest-ranked candidate is eliminated.
“I’m excited for a voting future where everyone who wants to be on council runs in a single pool of candidates for all seats,” Olson said. “This method will sometimes do away with the extra cost of a primary election, reduce negative campaigning and will encourage more people to run for office as running for a position is much less intimidating than running against an incumbent.
Washington wouldn’t be the first to experiment with ranked choice voting. Cities across the U.S. have already embraced it, and their experiences offer a glimpse of what might be possible here. San Francisco, Minneapolis, New York City and Portland have all successfully implemented ranked choice voting for local elections.
RANKED CHOICE VOTING ELECTIONS WASHINGTON STATE HB 1448 VOTER TURNOUT
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