The League of Women Voters of Virginia strongly supports HB630, which would allow all jurisdictions, including towns, cities, and counties, to use ranked choice voting (RCV) in elections for local governing bodies. HB630 would remove the “sunset” deadline of 2031, thus allowing the use of RCV as a permanent option for those elections. Furthermore, this bill would direct the State Board of Elections to establish standards and procedures for tabulating software and equipment, and establish procedures for counting damaged ballots and requesting risk-limiting audits, as well as directing ELECT to produce and provide educational materials to voters. These technical recommendations are in response to the State Board of Elections 2023 report on RCV. The League believes that RCV leads to fairer elections. RCV elections often attract candidates from diverse backgrounds. RCV encourages more positive campaigning since candidates must reach out and appeal to a broad group of voters, rather than limiting their outreach to a small corps of supporters . RCV allows the voters to fully express their support for the candidates who best represent the voters’ views and beliefs, without having to worry about “wasting” their vote. Ranked Choice Voting is one way to strengthen our democracy. The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB630 and respectfully requests the Elections Administration Subcommittee to report it to the full House Privileges and Elections Committee.

I am a constituent and representative of two election reform nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations: Veterans for all Voters and UpVote Virginia. I urge you to support legislation that allows localities greater flexibility in adopting ranked choice voting (RCV) for their local elections. HB630 (Callsen) amends the existing local option to include any local governing body and codifies best practices in election implementation. It builds on the successful use of RCV in Arlington and Charlottesville to pave the way for other localities to use RCV in a way that makes sense for them. Both of the election reform organizations I represent endorse RCV as a reform that will improve accountability and competition for all constituents. Further, exit polling following RCV elections consistently shows that voters find it easy to use and want to keep it. Thank you for considering this request, and for your hard work for all Virginians. Adam King

Please support this legislation to expand the use of Ranked Choice Voting to any local governing body, making it more flexible and useful. The bill also removes the cutoff, making the option permanent, so that if a jurisdiction finds RCV appropriate, the option to use it won't expire.

Ranked Choice Voting has been used successfully in 5 elections in Arlington since 2023. We will be using it again in June 2026 and possibly in November 2026 as well. Ranked Choice voting is a great win for voters - we can vote for the candidates that we prefer without worrying about "wasting" our vote. Candidates must reach out to a broad spectrum of voters rather than focussing only on their core supporters. Campaigning is more positive which makes the election experience so much better for everyone! HB630 will allow us to continue using RCV permanently by eliminating the sunset deadline of 2031. This bill will also allow towns to use RCV for their town council elections. Please vote YES on HB630 and report it to the full P&E Committee and then to the full House for a vote.

I support ranked choice voting. Too often, people’s votes are made meaningless by the process of getting to a binary choice through party politics or, worse yet, spoilers. I remember a three-way race for Clerk of Court for Prince William County that divided voters in a way that led the least qualified candidate to win. Let’s make it possible to avoid that kind of outcome in the future.

I support HB630 to expand the use of Ranked Choice Voting in Virginia because it gives voters more voice while rewarding candidates who appeal to a broader range of people, not just a narrow base. Evidence from places that use RCV shows it tends to advantage more pragmatic, consensus-building candidates — helping reduce polarization and extremism in our politics. At the same time, RCV increases voter choice, discourages negative campaigning, reduces “spoiler” dynamics that can distort outcomes and has shown to increase voter turnout. Expanding RCV is a beneficial improvement for voters.

Please support legislation that allows localities greater flexibility in adopting RCV for their local elections. Thank You

I urge you to support legislation that allows localities greater flexibility in adopting ranked choice voting for their local elections. HB630 (Callsen) amends the existing local option to include any local governing body and codifies best practices in election implementation. It builds on the successful use of RCV in Arlington and Charlottesville to pave the way for other localities to use RCV in a way that makes sense for them.

Please support Rank Choice Voting (RCV) Bill (HB 630). Thank you. Why it matters for Virginia: ✅ Reduces negative campaigning ✅ Encourages more diverse and representative candidates ✅ Prevents vote splitting and spoiler effects ✅ Makes elections fairer and more reflective of voter preferences

Please support Rank Choice Voting (RCV) Bill (HB 630). Thank you. Right now, in most Virginia elections, voters choose just one candidate. In races with 3+ candidates, that can lead to winners being elected with far less than a majority of the vote — sometimes less than 30%! Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) changes that. Here’s how it works: Instead of picking just one candidate, you rank the candidates you like in order of preference — 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so on. If no one gets a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Those votes go to the next choice on each ballot. This process continues until someone wins with majority support. Why it matters for Virginia: ✅ Reduces negative campaigning ✅ Encourages more diverse and representative candidates ✅ Prevents vote splitting and spoiler effects ✅ Makes elections fairer and more reflective of voter preferences

I am writing to urge you to proudly support legislation to allow localities much more flexibility in adopting ranked choice voting for their local elections. HB630 (Callsen) amends the existing local option to include any local governing body, and codifies best practices in election implementation. Arlington and Charlottesville have showed us with their successful use of ranked choice voting that we should build on those successes, and pave the way for other localities to use RCV in any ways they can determine that makes sense for them.

I support ranked choice voting in Virginia. Studies have shown that it improves voter turnout. (link to study attached). Candidates are more moderate in their views, as they have to appeal to as a second choice to voters. It removes the "spoiler" candidate, where often a third candidate draws off enough votes from the likely winner, and hands the election to the less popular second place candidate. It provides a better voice to Virginia voters. Local governments should be allowed to choose to use Ranked Choice Voting.

I ask you to support this legislation that allows localities greater flexibility in adopting ranked choice voting (RVC) for their local elections. HB630 (Callsen) amends the existing local voting options to include any local governing body and codifies best practices in election implementation. It builds on the popular and successful use of RCV in Arlington and Charlottesville to allow other localities to use RCV if so requested by their constituents.

I oppose this bill. TWO WRONGS DON’T MAKE IT RIGHT. How disrespectful Mrs. Louise Lucas cussing out others who disagree. She allowed destruction, looting, vandalism, and violence to happen. Today’s Democrats have lost their way especially during Biden’s tyrannical presidency.

I request your support for legislation that allows localities greater flexibility in adopting ranked choice voting for their local elections. HB630 (Callsen) amends the existing local option to include any local governing body and codifies best practices in election implementation. It builds on the successful use of RCV in Arlington and Charlottesville to pave the way for other localities to use RCV in a way that makes sense for them.

I urge you to support legislation that allows localities greater flexibility in adopting ranked choice voting for their local elections. HB630 (Callsen) amends the existing local option to include any local governing body and codifies best practices in election implementation. It builds on the successful use of RCV in Arlington and Charlottesville to pave the way for other localities to use RCV in a way that makes sense for them.

I am a US Army veteran and retired Federal employee with almost 30 years of service to our country. As my retirement was somewhat unexpected, I have transitioned from being politically invested at the state and national level to politically engaged in as many levels as I can touch. As an engaged voter of Fairfax County, I appreciate the opportunity to rank my preferred candidates for local races. We know raked choice voting improves turnout. It is constructive that blocs of voters with different perspectives — such as homeowners and renters — are able to secure their individual voices locally. The Board of Supervisors, for example, is more likely to hear and respond to the needs of a wider range of its constituents. Please make rank-choice-voting a permanent option for local elections in Virginia. I hope we can bring this practice—which motivates voters to get more informed about candidates and rewards candidates to find common ground with rivals—to state-wide and federal races soon, too. Thank you for the opportunity to voice my opinion in this forum.

I urge you to support legislation that allows localities greater flexibility in adopting ranked choice voting for their local elections. HB630 (Callsen) amends the existing local option to include any local governing body and codifies best practices in election implementation. It builds on the successful use of RCV in Arlington and Charlottesville to pave the way for other localities to use RCV in a way that makes sense for them. We need RCV in all elections for local,.state,.and federal office, but this bill is a positive, incremental step in the right direction.

Please support legislation that allows localities greater flexibility in adopting ranked choice voting for their local elections. HB630 (Callsen) amends the existing local option to include any LOCAL governing body. It codifies best practices in election implementation, and builds on the successful use of this kind of voting in Arlington and Charlottesville, to pave the way for other localities to use RCV in a way that makes sense for them. Thank you.

I urge you to support legislation that allows localities greater flexibility in adopting ranked choice voting for their local elections. HB630 (Callsen) amends the existing local option to include any local governing body and codifies best practices in election implementation. It builds on the successful use of RCV in Arlington and Charlottesville to pave the way for other localities to use RCV in a way that makes sense for them.

As an engaged voter of Arlington County, I appreciate the opportunity to rank my preferred candidates for County Board. It is constructive that blocs of voters with different perspectives — such as homeowners and renters — are able to secure a voice on the County Board. The Board is more likely to hear and respond to the needs of a wider range of its constituents. Please make rank-choice-voting a permanent option for local elections in Virginia. I hope we can bring this practice—which motivates voters to get more informed about candidates and rewards candidates to find common ground with rivals—to federal races soon, too.

I am opposed to any all bill that make it easier to cheat in elections like these bills being presented. I am opposed to any and all bills that make same sex marriage acceptable. I am opposed to any and all bills that allow full term abortion and allow minors to have abortions with out the parents knowledge. I am opposed to any and all bills that would allow minors to undergo transgender surgery . I am opposed to any and all bills that will raise taxes while the politicians are trying to give themselves a 150% increase no that is not acceptable.