Joint Statement from UpVote Virginia and FairVote on the February 22 Arlington County BOard Meeting

Nonpartisan Democracy Reform Organizations applaud the Board for voting to continue using Ranked Choice Voting in General Elections

ARLINGTON, VA – Earlier today, UpVote Virginia, FairVote, and other nonpartisan advocates for fair elections from across the Commonwealth celebrated the vote by the Arlington County Board to continue the use of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in local general elections. This decision comes on the heels of the Board’s unanimous vote to permanently adopt RCV for its primary elections just fourteen months ago. 

Arlington was the first Virginia locality to take advantage of bipartisan state legislation allowing cities and counties the option to use RCV to elect members of local governing bodies, and exit polling has shown that voters like it, understand it, and know how to use it to make their voices heard. 

In exit polling from the June 2024 primary, 88% of Arlington voters say that RCV is easy and 67% of voters want to use RCV in future elections, mirroring high voter satisfaction in other cities and states across the country where RCV is in use.

In the same exit poll, strong majorities across all demographic groups agreed that RCV was easy and that they would like to use it in future elections. Additionally, 95% of voters expressed their preference between the top two candidates – even though many ranked a lower-performing candidate first. Similarly, 84% of voters ranked a winning candidate in the 2023 Democratic primary.

Public testimony from both FairVote President and CEO Meredith Sumpter and UpVote Virginia Executive Director Liz White reflected this popularity and momentum.

Said Sumpter, a longtime Arlington resident, “Over the last two years, we’ve seen RCV improve both the process and outcomes of our local elections here in Arlington. Ranked choice voting has given Arlington voters the freedom to support their favorite candidates without fear of wasting their votes. It has brought Arlington residents together around priorities we share.”

She added, “I am grateful to be an Arlingtonian and proud of our County Board for once again leading the Commonwealth in using ranked choice voting to empower all voters with more say, and more choice in who represents us.”

In White’s public testimony, she spoke of the greater RCV in Virginia and across the country. “Arlington is a national leader in Ranked Choice Voting, having run multiple smooth and successful RCV elections. You are a beacon in the commonwealth because of the steps you continue to take on this issue. This is something to be proud of and to celebrate.”

She also discussed the importance of continued voter education moving forward, and testified that, “UpVote Virginia and our coalition partners plan to continue to build on past successes and to make sure all voters are prepared when they get their ballot, regardless of age, race, zip code, or voting frequency.”

Ranked Choice Voting is the fastest-growing nonpartisan electoral reform in America, and in Virginia, both parties have embraced this program in recent years – including from the Arlington County Democratic Committee’s primary contests and the Republican Party of Virginia using it at its statewide nominating convention in 2021, and in several GOP congressional primaries in since 2022. 

Further, the City of Charlottesville also recently voted to use RCV in their June 2025 primaries to choose nominees for City Council. Other localities are also taking steps to adopt similar pilot programs, including Albemarle County and the cities of Fredericksburg and Newport News. 

In the 2025 General Assembly session, SB1009 has passed both legislative chambers, and is awaiting Governor Youngkin’s action. This bill makes minor adjustments to the existing pilot program established in 2020 allowing localities to adopt RCV for city council and board of supervisor elections, including establishing best practices for election administration.