KEY FOCUS AREA
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION
Proportional representation is designed to ensure that every vote counts fairly and that election outcomes reflect the true preferences of the community. Instead of a “winner-take-all” approach—where large groups of voters can be left without a voice—proportional representation allocates seats based on the percentage of votes each group or viewpoint receives. That means if 30% of voters support a candidate or party, they earn roughly 30% of the representation.
For Virginians, this would lead to a political system that better represents the diversity of our communities. Many local governing bodies are elected at-large, and adding ranked choice voting to their existing structure would lead to more representative outcomes and more responsive local government.
At UpVote Virginia, we believe proportional representation can strengthen democracy by making elections more competitive, inclusive, and responsive to the people.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Multi-winner
ranked choice voting
Proportional Ranked Choice Voting (PRCV), also known as the Single Transferable Vote, is a system designed to deliver fair, proportional representation in multi-member elections. In Virginia, Arlington County and the City of Charlottesville have used PRCV in local elections where more than one at-large seat is on the ballot.
Just like in any ranked choice voting election, instead of choosing just one candidate, voters rank candidates they like in order of preference.
To win a seat, candidates must reach a vote threshold based on the number of seats available.
First-choice votes are counted initially, and any candidate who meets the threshold is elected. If a candidate receives more votes than they need, their surplus votes are transferred proportionally to voters’ next choices. If no one meets the threshold, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and those votes are transferred to the voters’ next choice. This process continues until all seats are filled.
Because votes are transferred rather than discarded, PRCV ensures that as many voters as possible help elect someone they support. The result is a more proportional outcome—where representation closely matches the diversity of voter preferences—leading to broader representation, fewer wasted votes, and a more responsive democracy.
