Press release: Northern Virginia Localities Embrace and Move Forward With Ranked Choice Voting
UpVote Virginia applauds Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax for supporting electoral reform that strengthens democratic outcomes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2025
Contact: Liz White
RICHMOND, VA – Across Northern Virginia, localities are embracing Ranked Choice Voting as a way to strengthen democratic outcomes and give voters more choice in their elections.
In Alexandria, the Democratic Committee recently passed a resolution supporting RCV and calling on local representatives to champion this electoral reform.
In Arlington, residents began early voting Friday for the county's fourth RCV election and second RCV general election, building on their successful pilot program.
And in Fairfax County, the Democratic Committee will be using RCV to select their nominee for the Braddock Supervisor seat to replace James Walkinshaw, who was recently elected to Congress. This District Supervisor Democratic Firehouse Primary will take place remotely beginning on October 2, and in-person on October 4.
Today, UpVote Virginia celebrates these Northern Virginia developments that demonstrate the region's leadership in Ranked Choice Voting reform.
The Alexandria resolution calls on representatives in Congress and the General Assembly to support legislation promoting RCV adoption, urges the Alexandria City Council to study and consider implementing RCV in local elections, and encourages the Democratic Party of Virginia to explore using RCV in party reorganization processes and primaries.
Since 2020, Virginia law has allowed localities to adopt RCV for local elections like city council and school board races, with Arlington and Charlottesville having already implemented successful RCV pilot programs.
"Northern Virginia is demonstrating the multiple ways RCV can strengthen democratic processes, and we’re seeing real momentum in the region," said UpVote Virginia Executive Director Liz White. "What’s more, there's movement in other Virginia localities — including Fredericksburg, Newport News, Norfolk, and Richmond — to consider similar pilot programs. UpVote Virginia will continue to help localities across Virginia take advantage of this opportunity to make their elections more representative and inclusive."
Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, helping ensure winners better reflect the will of the majority while reducing vote-splitting and "spoiler" effects. Studies show RCV promotes more diverse representation, encourages civil campaigning, and increases voter participation.
This regional momentum builds on Virginia's bipartisan support for RCV. Both major parties in Virginia have embraced RCV in recent years, with the Republican Party of Virginia using it at its statewide nominating convention in 2021 and in several GOP congressional primaries, while Democratic committees have used it in local primary contests and Democratic-led General Assembly chambers have passed RCV legislation in recent years.
UpVote Virginia encourages other local party committees and local governing bodies across the Commonwealth to follow Northern Virginia's lead in supporting this proven electoral reform that puts voters first.
UpVote Virginia is a registered 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating the voices of Virginia voters through nonpartisan education, advocacy, and grassroots engagement. As a democracy reform collective, UpVote Virginia will focus on multiple issues related to making our elections stronger and more equitable, including its first flagship issue: Ranked Choice Voting. Learn more at UpVoteVA.org.
