Hi there, The political issue I care most about is Ranked Choice Voting. It seems to be the obvious solution to the divisive "bipartisan room spiral" that sets the exhausting tone of the news cycle. In newer democracies, they use ranking to find the truest representatives. It inspired collaboration between parties rather than animosity. While there is a caveat called a Condorcet Winner that I recommend looking into, any ranked choice system would likely be better than always having to choose the "lesser of two evils." Thanks for considering my thoughts!

Veterans for Political Innovation (VPI) recognizes Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) as the most important and most positive governmental structural improvement of our time. Administered in other states, other countries, and our own courts - it has proven to positively re-incentivize our representatives to reduce polarizing rhetoric, ensure true majority rule, and promote candidates with a broad coalition of support. Plurality voting comes at a steep cost. We are seeing this manifest itself in the ongoing breakdown of our political discourse. RCV is the only prospective change on the table that can reduce the gap of our severely polarized political discourse. Please pass these bills to enable RCV’s most widespread availability.

I oppose this bill. Ranked choice voting violates equal protection (one person, one vote) and due process (too confusing), relies on processes that are not transparent, and is too costly. It requires voters to understand how the votes will be cast and counted, and then to vote accordingly in multiple rounds of balloting. If one of the candidates gets more than 50% of the first-choice votes, then the winner is determined on election night. If not, the ballots then must be collected and counted, usually using a computer to eliminate the lower-ranked candidates and allocate the second, third, and other choices until you get a candidate with over 50% of the vote. In Maine, for statewide elections, that process took one to two weeks in 2018. This process will be confusing to voters and is fraught with the possibility of unintended consequences. It is simply another way to game the system.

I am writing in support of ranked choice voting. You have several bills before you that enhance ranked choice voting options. HB 2436 seems to be the most encompassing, extending the option to all local elections and Presidential primaries. Ranked choice voting allows voters to be more specific about their choices at the ballot box. It makes sure that, if an individual's vote can’t help their first-choice candidate win, it can at least count toward their next choice. It also helps prevent situations where an election winner doesn’t represent the desires of the majority of voters. When considering these bills, please support the one with the broadest reach. Thank you!

The current election system is the equivalent of a legislative syste, where you have to vote on every bill without the ability to compromise to help build a majority coalition. That is the dilemma of voters when we have more than 2 candidates on our ballot. Thats why i urge you all to support HB 2436, 2118 and 1751 because Ranked Choice Voting is Pro-Democracy as it cements the principle that our elections should be governed by Majority Rule through a simple Instant Runoff.  Ranked Choice Voting is being used more in Virginia and nationwide because it allows both parties to benefit from elections that better reflect the will of the people. But localities will be given more reason to try it if they have more ways to use it. RCV empowers candidates to run without the risk of being called a spoiler in a primary field and allows candidates from similar constituencies to compete without splitting their coalitions.   RCV empowers voters to rank their favorite candidates without wasting their vote because they don't have a crystal ball on who has the best chance to win a primary.   This flexibility is especially critical for military and overseas and senior voters so they can vote by mail without risking that they picked a candidate that dropped out and endorsed someone else by the time their ballot arrives. That is why several states already offer Ranked Choice Voting mail ballots.

V-PI strongly supports HB 1751, HB 2118, and HB 2436. Let's start with "Why." 1) RCV used in party primaries result in candidates with majority support 2) Candidates runnning in RCV elections usually run more positive campaigns because they are seeking support from a majority of voters, not just their base. 3) RCV elections encourage more candidates to run for office because candidates can not be spoilers. 4) Exit polling shows that a super majority of voters find RCV easy to understand 5) RCV elections aren't new. RCV elections are currently being run in cities, counties, and states around the country. Finally, using RCV in party primaries and general elections is especially important or activy-duty military members who are deployed overseas. The time it takes to request a ballot, receive a ballot, fill-out a ballot, mail a ballot, and receive the ballot in the election office, could take up to 45 days. Using current voting methods, a mail-in ballot voter could only select one choice. If a candidate drops out of the race during this 45 day period, the voter's vote is essentially wasted. In RCV elections, if a candidate drops out of a race, the voter's ranked choices are reallocated to the remaining candidates. V-PI appreciates your support for RCV!

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports the expansion of ranked choice voting, permitted in HB 1751, HB 2118, and HB 2436. We believe that ranked choice voting or RCV would make our elections more accessible, would promote nominees with broad support, and would ensure that every voter’s voice is heard. RCV has already been used to select candidates for general election races in Virginia, including recent Republican Party primary elections. RCV is of particular benefit in crowded races, where voters typically may decide to vote strategically to avoid “wasting” their vote on a candidate who has little chance of winning. Additionally, the field can be in flux as candidates drop out, raising the chance that voters will cast a ballot for an inactive candidate. This may be especially true for Virginians who are living overseas, including members of our armed forces, who vote early to help ensure their ballots arrive in time. Giving voters the option to rank candidates in order of preference gives a voter a chance to still have a consequential vote on their ballot. RCV additionally produces nominees with strong and widespread support, even in a crowded field of candidates. By requiring a majority support, RCV incentivizes candidates to build an inclusive campaign and appeal to the broadest group of primary voters. Many voters feel that they must vote strategically in regular elections, by voting for someone whom they believe has the best chance of defeating their last choice in a primary, rather than selecting the candidate who best represents their views. Five states used RCV in the 2020 presidential primaries and caucuses, including Hawaii; Alaska; Kansas; Wyoming; and early voters in Nevada.

Comments Document

Chairman O’Quinn and Members of the Committee, My name is Robert Melvin, and I am the senior manager of State Government Affairs for the Northeast region for the R Street Institute. The R Street Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy research organization. Our mission is to engage in policy research and outreach to promote free markets and limited, effective government in many areas, including election and voting reform. This is why HB 1751 is of special interest to us. The R Street Institute is a strong proponent of improving the experience of eligible voters while preserving trust in our elections. House Bill 1751 would do just that by allowing localities to use ranked-choice voting (RCV) for town council and school board elections. RCV provides the opportunity for voters to rank candidates in order of preference and, in so doing, gives voters a stronger voice in their representation. Voters can show support for more than one candidate and can be confident that even if their favorite candidates lose, they did not throw away their votes. Further, because the winner must obtain a majority of support, more voters will feel that they contributed to the eventual victor. In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly passed HB 1103, which permits counties and cities to adopt RCV. This law was limited to county and city elections and unfortunately omitted some key local races, including town council and school board elections. The proposed measure is a technical amendment to state law, and it continues to ensure that the ability to adopt RCV is permissive rather than mandatory. Most importantly, this proposal would simply expand the RCV pilot program that has a sunset provision for 2031, thereby providing greater opportunity for voters to test out this important voting tool on a larger number of elections during the trial period. While some individuals worry that a new voting system could inject confusion into the process for voters, the R Street Institute has conducted research on RCV and found that, ultimately, voters are not befuddled. Instead, our researchers have found that voters are likely to take advantage of the power to rank candidates, specifically in the context of partisan primaries. Look no further than the successful use of RCV by Virginia Republicans when they nominated Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2021. Of note, voters who do not wish to rank candidates also retain the ability to simply select only one contender. The proposal is not implementing something new in the Commonwealth—rather, it is simply making technical changes to state law by permitting RCV to be allowed for town council and local school board elections. It is therefore only logical to expand the law during its pilot phase to provide voters with the ability to truly learn the system and determine whether it is something they would like to continue on a permanent basis. For these reasons, I encourage you to support HB 1751. Thank you, Robert Melvin Senior Manager, Government Affairs for the Northeast Region R Street Institute rmelvin@rstreet.org

Ranked Choice Voting only occurs when there are three or more candidates in an election. Voters get to fully express themselves by ranking the candidates in their order of preference. RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters can be more confident in the results. In US localities where Ranked Choice Voting has been adopted, polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. RCV is also called Instant Run Off Voting, because it gets to a majority result, but without an all-day long convention with multiple rounds of voting. RCV is more efficient, innovative, and encourages competition without similar candidates splitting the vote. Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All bills in this Subcommittee proposing expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023. At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling law. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. Please support Ranked Choice Voting bills.

Please make Ranked Choice Voting more widely available as an option for various polities in Virginia. It is well tested in many countries and many places in the US for decades. This isn't really new. And in fact its introduction has been so uneventful everywhere that is almost perceived as boring. Its simplicity brings strong results. More candidates/competition, campaigns with fewer personal attacks, more people vote, campaigns focus more on issues and policies. In legislative races, RCV if used in multi-seat races, can bring unprecedented proportional representation to many districts that are now shut-out. If you are in the 49%..you will get no seats. That is why so many don't vote. In the future, legislative RCV will ensure that almost everyone elects someone, even if the majority of regional seats go to the majority party. RCV does not solve all of our election challenges, but it is a big step forward.

Dear Members of the Privileges and Elections Committee Subcommittee 2 Please support HB1751 and HB2118, which expand the permissible use of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in Virginia’s elections, granting the option to use RCV in school board elections (HB1751) and for any local or constitutional office (HB2118). RCV is easy for voters to understand, and polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again. We saw around the country in 2022 that RCV worked well in numerous elections, and we saw its effective use in the 2021 Virginia Republican primary. Because RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results, and results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. If parties had the option to use RCV to express presidential preference, voters would have back up choices if their first choices drop out early. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023. HB 1751 and HB2118 are needed because current law allows for RCV only in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. Further, at least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation, highlighting the need for these bills. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org.

Dear Delegate Ransone, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate Maldonado, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate Mundon King, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate Sickles, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate Wachsmann, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate Taylor, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate Williams, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate O,Quinn, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate Bloxom, Thank you for sponsoring bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Ranked Choice Voting is a low cost, effective method of enabling more than just two candidates to run political campaigns without the fear of like-minded candidates cannibalizing each other's votes. Virginia localities should be allowed to expand the eligibility of Ranked Choice Voting, on their own volition and expense, to all constitutional offices through the passage of HB 1751. The option to use Ranked Choice Voting should also be permitted for political party primaries in Virginia at the discretion of the members and leadership of said party.

Dear Delegates: Please support HB1751, HB2118, and HB2436 expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. RCV allows for candidates to win with a majority, so results can better reflect the communities the candidate will serve. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. The bills expand the option to use RCV for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. Please support adding more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's elections. Sincerely, Erin Coady Portsmouth

Good afternoon. I am writing to ask you to please support, or co-sponsor, bills expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Numerous polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again. RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, and voters are more confident in the results. Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All proposed bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023. At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only, School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two-thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Best Regards, Lucas N Hall Bon Air (Chesterfield), Va

Please support or co-sponsor bills expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life.Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it againRCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the resultsResults are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serveAll four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties.The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation.Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections onlySchool boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot programRecent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in.Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner.When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, Andrew J. Franke President Ravensworth Press Town of Elkton

Please support or co-sponsor bills expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life.Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it againRCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the resultsResults are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serveAll four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties.The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation.Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections onlySchool boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot programRecent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in.Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner.When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely,Your NameCity

I oppose HB 1751. The traditional method of voting, dictating that the candidate with the most votes wins, is a vastly superior method to ranked choice voting (RCV). RCV muddies the waters, by allowing for numerous tallies of recreated ballots that discard some voters’ first-choice candidates and move 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th- choice candidates into a first-place position. It is likely that two democrats and/or two republican candidates will be on those ballots, creating a divide in those supporters with the outcome that neither wins a majority of votes. RCV is the least transparent of voting methods, with the various vote tallies at different stages difficult for anyone to track or verify.

Ranked choice voting would be extremely beneficial as it is orders of magnitude better than our current system of plurality voting. In fact, in any race with more than two parties represented, plurality voting is the absolute worst option and our voting system is long overdue for an overhaul. Ranked choice, also known as instant runoff, does solve many of the problems that our current system has. A short YouTube video explaining multiple voting systems and why everything is better than plurality voting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhO6jfHPFQU

I OPPOSE this bill. RCV is not right for Virginia because: -RCV redistributes votes and obscures voter support -Every vote does NOT count -Precinct reporting will be a logistics nightmare -Reporting will be delayed -Its more expense -It is real, not imagined voter suppression

I OPPOSE this bill. RCV is not right for Virginia because: -RCV redistributes votes and obscures voter support -Every vote does NOT count -Precinct reporting will be a logistics nightmare -Reporting will be delayed -Its more expense -It is real, not imagined voter suppression

I'm writing to express my support this bill. Rank-choice voting is a better way to vote. * It give better representation of the electorate. * For early voting, it ensures ALL cast votes are counted in the event a candidate drops out. * It avoids the need for run-off elections (e.g. Georgia) Sincerely, Brian DeRocher

Ranked choice voting is a low cost, secure, and effective way to conduct a single seat election with three or more candidates without them cannibalizing each other's votes. It is for this reason that localities and local political parties should be given the option, at their own expense and discretion, to adopt and conduct ranked choice voting elections for primaries and local constitutional offices.

I am in favor of ranked choice voting . This system will make elections more fair and allow voters to select the candidates in the manner they want to see allowing a independent or 3rd party a better chance of getting on a board excedra Dean D Davison Past Chair Libertarian Party of Va And Concerned CITIZENS

Ranked Choice Voting has massive support among Republicans, Democrats, and Third Parties. It's simple to use and has been deemed Constitutional by multiple courts. Allowing parties to use it in Primary Contests is a massive improvement over the current plurality system and will be approved of by the Republicans who used it to select their gubernatorial candidate in the previous election and Democrats who have passed numerous resolutions in favor of it. Please support this bill and others that allow/expand the use of Ranked Choice Voting in Virginia.

Rank Choice voting would be an excellent addition to the Virginia election process. Rank Choice Voting provides better candidates and representation based on the majority of the voters. This also ends any “wasted” or “stealing” vote arguments. .

Comments Document

We OPPOSE the bill most of us are concerned about Election integrity and do not trust the machines when counting ballots in a regular 1+1+1 counting of the vote so how can we trust an algorithm to count a ballot multiple times in Ranked Choice voting. We recently had a presentation on how it works at of January meeting and we oppose this being used in state wide and local elections. I have included an article from the Heritage Foundation on it and you can go to our YouTube channel to watch the presentation on Ranked Choice Voting by the Virginia Institute for Public Policy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afq5l4gGT58&t=9s

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I OPPOSE 1947. I SUPPORT, however, 1948. I OPPOSE 1444 and 2234.

I strongly support this bill. An annual absentee voting list would help reduce excess voter on the rolls that permanent absentee would carry like recently dead voters and voters that have moved.

Please vote YES on HB 1947. The permanent absentee voter roll should be eliminated, in favor of requiring a voter to submit an annual application for an AB. Permanent AB voter rolls create confusion and allow for the misappropriation of ballots. Confusion arises because many voters are not aware they are on a permanent AB list. A voter does not ask to be on the list; rather, they are automatically placed on the list after requesting an AB one time. To assume a voter wants to be on a permanent AB list based on one request is presumptuous. As an election officer, I can tell you that many voters do not want to be on the permanent list. Misappropriation of ballots occurs when AB are automatically sent out, without request by the voter, to addresses no longer associated with the voter. Unfortunately, Virginia has a poor track record of updating voter addresses, with the result that AB are sent to outdated addresses, allowing anyone to use them. This is a huge vulnerability in Virginia’s election system. The permanent AB list should be repealed.

Good afternoon. I am writing to ask you to please support, or co-sponsor, bills expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Numerous polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again. RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, and voters are more confident in the results. Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All proposed bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023. At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only, School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two-thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Best Regards, Lucas N Hall Bon Air (Chesterfield), Va

Please support or co-sponsor bills expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life.Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it againRCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the resultsResults are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serveAll four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties.The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation.Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections onlySchool boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot programRecent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in.Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner.When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, Andrew J. Franke President Ravensworth Press Town of Elkton

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I OPPOSE 1947. I SUPPORT, however, 1948. I OPPOSE 1444 and 2234.

The elimination of a witness signature on an absentee ballot as proposed in HB 1948 is a great idea! However, requiring a date of birth and last four digits of an individual's social security number on the application gives enough information on the form for anyone who intercepts it in the mail, or anyone reviewing the application, to access an that individual's banking information. Those are the two pieces of identification, along with name and address, that most banks and credit cards request on the phone as verification that an individual is who they say they are. Which makes the idea of putting them on the application solid, but opens up too many opportunities for identity theft. Please consider a substitute bill that drops the SSN requirement but requires the name, address, and DOB to match what's in the voter registration database. Thank you!

The League of Women Voters supports HB 1948. In a report to the General Assembly, a working group that included election officials and representatives of both major political parties found that the better way to authenticate voters is to require them to provide the date of birth and the last four digits of the social security number. The witness verification method is flawed and might not prevent voter fraud. This change would also make it possible for eligible voters who have difficulty finding witnesses to vote, particularly those who live alone, including older voters, and those with disabilities.

I strongly support this bill. Too many people don't have a witness and this would make it easier for people to vote.

Good afternoon. I am writing to ask you to please support, or co-sponsor, bills expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Numerous polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again. RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, and voters are more confident in the results. Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All proposed bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023. At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only, School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two-thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Best Regards, Lucas N Hall Bon Air (Chesterfield), Va

Please support or co-sponsor bills expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life.Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it againRCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the resultsResults are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serveAll four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties.The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation.Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections onlySchool boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot programRecent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in.Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner.When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, Andrew J. Franke President Ravensworth Press Town of Elkton

Hi there, The political issue I care most about is Ranked Choice Voting. It seems to be the obvious solution to the divisive "bipartisan room spiral" that sets the exhausting tone of the news cycle. In newer democracies, they use ranking to find the truest representatives. It inspired collaboration between parties rather than animosity. While there is a caveat called a Condorcet Winner that I recommend looking into, any ranked choice system would likely be better than always having to choose the "lesser of two evils." Thanks for considering my thoughts!

I am writing in support of ranked choice voting. You have several bills before you that enhance ranked choice voting options. HB 2436 seems to be the most encompassing, extending the option to all local elections and Presidential primaries. Ranked choice voting allows voters to be more specific about their choices at the ballot box. It makes sure that, if an individual's vote can’t help their first-choice candidate win, it can at least count toward their next choice. It also helps prevent situations where an election winner doesn’t represent the desires of the majority of voters. When considering these bills, please support the one with the broadest reach. Thank you!

The current election system is the equivalent of a legislative syste, where you have to vote on every bill without the ability to compromise to help build a majority coalition. That is the dilemma of voters when we have more than 2 candidates on our ballot. Thats why i urge you all to support HB 2436, 2118 and 1751 because Ranked Choice Voting is Pro-Democracy as it cements the principle that our elections should be governed by Majority Rule through a simple Instant Runoff.  Ranked Choice Voting is being used more in Virginia and nationwide because it allows both parties to benefit from elections that better reflect the will of the people. But localities will be given more reason to try it if they have more ways to use it. RCV empowers candidates to run without the risk of being called a spoiler in a primary field and allows candidates from similar constituencies to compete without splitting their coalitions.   RCV empowers voters to rank their favorite candidates without wasting their vote because they don't have a crystal ball on who has the best chance to win a primary.   This flexibility is especially critical for military and overseas and senior voters so they can vote by mail without risking that they picked a candidate that dropped out and endorsed someone else by the time their ballot arrives. That is why several states already offer Ranked Choice Voting mail ballots.

V-PI strongly supports HB 1751, HB 2118, and HB 2436. Let's start with "Why." 1) RCV used in party primaries result in candidates with majority support 2) Candidates runnning in RCV elections usually run more positive campaigns because they are seeking support from a majority of voters, not just their base. 3) RCV elections encourage more candidates to run for office because candidates can not be spoilers. 4) Exit polling shows that a super majority of voters find RCV easy to understand 5) RCV elections aren't new. RCV elections are currently being run in cities, counties, and states around the country. Finally, using RCV in party primaries and general elections is especially important or activy-duty military members who are deployed overseas. The time it takes to request a ballot, receive a ballot, fill-out a ballot, mail a ballot, and receive the ballot in the election office, could take up to 45 days. Using current voting methods, a mail-in ballot voter could only select one choice. If a candidate drops out of the race during this 45 day period, the voter's vote is essentially wasted. In RCV elections, if a candidate drops out of a race, the voter's ranked choices are reallocated to the remaining candidates. V-PI appreciates your support for RCV!

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports the expansion of ranked choice voting, permitted in HB 1751, HB 2118, and HB 2436. We believe that ranked choice voting or RCV would make our elections more accessible, would promote nominees with broad support, and would ensure that every voter’s voice is heard. RCV has already been used to select candidates for general election races in Virginia, including recent Republican Party primary elections. RCV is of particular benefit in crowded races, where voters typically may decide to vote strategically to avoid “wasting” their vote on a candidate who has little chance of winning. Additionally, the field can be in flux as candidates drop out, raising the chance that voters will cast a ballot for an inactive candidate. This may be especially true for Virginians who are living overseas, including members of our armed forces, who vote early to help ensure their ballots arrive in time. Giving voters the option to rank candidates in order of preference gives a voter a chance to still have a consequential vote on their ballot. RCV additionally produces nominees with strong and widespread support, even in a crowded field of candidates. By requiring a majority support, RCV incentivizes candidates to build an inclusive campaign and appeal to the broadest group of primary voters. Many voters feel that they must vote strategically in regular elections, by voting for someone whom they believe has the best chance of defeating their last choice in a primary, rather than selecting the candidate who best represents their views. Five states used RCV in the 2020 presidential primaries and caucuses, including Hawaii; Alaska; Kansas; Wyoming; and early voters in Nevada.

Ranked Choice Voting only occurs when there are three or more candidates in an election. Voters get to fully express themselves by ranking the candidates in their order of preference. RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters can be more confident in the results. In US localities where Ranked Choice Voting has been adopted, polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. RCV is also called Instant Run Off Voting, because it gets to a majority result, but without an all-day long convention with multiple rounds of voting. RCV is more efficient, innovative, and encourages competition without similar candidates splitting the vote. Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All bills in this Subcommittee proposing expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023. At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling law. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. Please support Ranked Choice Voting bills.

Please make Ranked Choice Voting more widely available as an option for various polities in Virginia. It is well tested in many countries and many places in the US for decades. This isn't really new. And in fact its introduction has been so uneventful everywhere that is almost perceived as boring. Its simplicity brings strong results. More candidates/competition, campaigns with fewer personal attacks, more people vote, campaigns focus more on issues and policies. In legislative races, RCV if used in multi-seat races, can bring unprecedented proportional representation to many districts that are now shut-out. If you are in the 49%..you will get no seats. That is why so many don't vote. In the future, legislative RCV will ensure that almost everyone elects someone, even if the majority of regional seats go to the majority party. RCV does not solve all of our election challenges, but it is a big step forward.

Dear Members of the Privileges and Elections Committee Subcommittee 2 Please support HB1751 and HB2118, which expand the permissible use of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in Virginia’s elections, granting the option to use RCV in school board elections (HB1751) and for any local or constitutional office (HB2118). RCV is easy for voters to understand, and polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again. We saw around the country in 2022 that RCV worked well in numerous elections, and we saw its effective use in the 2021 Virginia Republican primary. Because RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results, and results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. If parties had the option to use RCV to express presidential preference, voters would have back up choices if their first choices drop out early. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023. HB 1751 and HB2118 are needed because current law allows for RCV only in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. Further, at least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation, highlighting the need for these bills. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org.

Please vote NO on HB 2118. The traditional method of voting, dictating that the candidate with the most votes wins, is far superior to ranked choice voting (RCV). RCV obscures voters’ true intentions, by allowing for numerous tallies of recreated ballots that discard some voters’ first-choice candidates, and moving 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th choice candidates into a first-place position. It is likely that two democrats and/or two republicans will be on a ballot, creating a divide in their supporters, with the outcome that nether wins a majority of the votes. RCV is also the least transparent of voting methods, with the various vote tallies at different stages difficult for anyone to track or verify. The public’s already high distrust in Virginia’s election process would be exasperated by using RCV.

Dear Delegate Ransone, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate Maldonado, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate Mundon King, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate Sickles, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate Wachsmann, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate Taylor, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate Williams, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate O,Quinn, Please support bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegate Bloxom, Thank you for sponsoring bills to expand the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the results Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, John Dickson Amissville, VA

Dear Delegates: Please support HB1751, HB2118, and HB2436 expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. RCV allows for candidates to win with a majority, so results can better reflect the communities the candidate will serve. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. The bills expand the option to use RCV for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. Please support adding more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's elections. Sincerely, Erin Coady Portsmouth

Good afternoon. I am writing to ask you to please support, or co-sponsor, bills expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Numerous polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again. RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, and voters are more confident in the results. Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All proposed bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023. At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only, School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two-thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Best Regards, Lucas N Hall Bon Air (Chesterfield), Va

Please support or co-sponsor bills expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life.Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it againRCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the resultsResults are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serveAll four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties.The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation.Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections onlySchool boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot programRecent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in.Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner.When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, Andrew J. Franke President Ravensworth Press Town of Elkton

I OPPOSE this bill. RCV is not right for Virginia because: -RCV redistributes votes and obscures voter support -Every vote does NOT count -Precinct reporting will be a logistics nightmare -Reporting will be delayed -Its more expense -It is real, not imagined voter suppression

I'm writing to express my support this bill. Rank-choice voting is a better way to vote. * It give better representation of the electorate. * For early voting, it ensures ALL cast votes are counted in the event a candidate drops out. * It avoids the need for run-off elections (e.g. Georgia) Sincerely, Brian DeRocher

Ranked Choice/Instant Runoff Voting is an election reform supported by Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and Third Parties across the country. It has support from both the Virginia Republican Party and Virginia Democratic Party as well as almost every Independent Virginia Voter that I've talked to. Allowing its use in Primaries and expanding its use locally would be a massive step forward for our elections. Our previous gubernatorial election showed that superior candidates are selected through a Ranked Choice/Instant Runoff process. *HB2301 would simply allow both parties the CHOICE of using it in their Presidential Primaries. The increase in turnout during Primaries vs Conventions which are limited in locations and access. Passing HB2301 would be extremely beneficial to both parties and voters. *HB2118 would also be extremely beneficial to voters by expanding the local option for Ranked Choice Voting. This has been an issue brought up by local leaders regarding the current offices that are allowed to use the system. This expansion would better assist local leaders in making this decision as it would allow all local offices to use Ranked Choice/Instant Runoff Voting instead of just the limited amount currently allowed. Multiple Counties and Cities have already passed resolutions in favor of it. Please pass all three Ranked Choice Voting Bills currently in the House: HB1751, HB2301, and HB2118!

Veterans for Political Innovation (VPI) recognizes Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) as the most important and most positive governmental structural improvement of our time. Administered in other states, other countries, and our own courts - it has proven to positively re-incentivize our representatives to reduce polarizing rhetoric, ensure true majority rule, and promote candidates with a broad coalition of support. Plurality voting comes at a steep cost. We are seeing this manifest itself in the ongoing breakdown of our political discourse. RCV is the only prospective change on the table that can reduce the gap of our severely polarized political discourse. Please pass these bills to enable RCV’s most widespread availability.

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB 2308. A local electoral board may adjourn for up to seven calendar days after meeting the day after the election. Since the law provides that absentee ballots may arrive by noon on the third day following an election, as long as the ballot was postmarked by the close of the polls, the current process would unnecessarily and probably unintentionally shorten the allowable time for a local electoral board to adjourn. Whether you agree with the added time for receipt of absentee ballots or not, as long as the law provides for the extra time, this bill seems to be nothing more than a housekeeping item to provide the electoral board with the same maximum seven days’ adjournment. It does not affect the timing of the State Board of Elections’ certification. We urge you to support the bill.

Good afternoon. I am writing to ask you to please support, or co-sponsor, bills expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Numerous polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again. RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, and voters are more confident in the results. Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All proposed bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023. At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only, School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two-thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Best Regards, Lucas N Hall Bon Air (Chesterfield), Va

Please support or co-sponsor bills expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life.Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it againRCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the resultsResults are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serveAll four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties.The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation.Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections onlySchool boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot programRecent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in.Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner.When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, Andrew J. Franke President Ravensworth Press Town of Elkton

Hi there, The political issue I care most about is Ranked Choice Voting. It seems to be the obvious solution to the divisive "bipartisan room spiral" that sets the exhausting tone of the news cycle. In newer democracies, they use ranking to find the truest representatives. It inspired collaboration between parties rather than animosity. While there is a caveat called a Condorcet Winner that I recommend looking into, any ranked choice system would likely be better than always having to choose the "lesser of two evils." Thanks for considering my thoughts!

I am writing in support of ranked choice voting. You have several bills before you that enhance ranked choice voting options. HB 2436 seems to be the most encompassing, extending the option to all local elections and Presidential primaries. Ranked choice voting allows voters to be more specific about their choices at the ballot box. It makes sure that, if an individual's vote can’t help their first-choice candidate win, it can at least count toward their next choice. It also helps prevent situations where an election winner doesn’t represent the desires of the majority of voters. When considering these bills, please support the one with the broadest reach. Thank you!

The current election system is the equivalent of a legislative syste, where you have to vote on every bill without the ability to compromise to help build a majority coalition. That is the dilemma of voters when we have more than 2 candidates on our ballot. Thats why i urge you all to support HB 2436, 2118 and 1751 because Ranked Choice Voting is Pro-Democracy as it cements the principle that our elections should be governed by Majority Rule through a simple Instant Runoff.  Ranked Choice Voting is being used more in Virginia and nationwide because it allows both parties to benefit from elections that better reflect the will of the people. But localities will be given more reason to try it if they have more ways to use it. RCV empowers candidates to run without the risk of being called a spoiler in a primary field and allows candidates from similar constituencies to compete without splitting their coalitions.   RCV empowers voters to rank their favorite candidates without wasting their vote because they don't have a crystal ball on who has the best chance to win a primary.   This flexibility is especially critical for military and overseas and senior voters so they can vote by mail without risking that they picked a candidate that dropped out and endorsed someone else by the time their ballot arrives. That is why several states already offer Ranked Choice Voting mail ballots.

V-PI strongly supports HB 1751, HB 2118, and HB 2436. Let's start with "Why." 1) RCV used in party primaries result in candidates with majority support 2) Candidates runnning in RCV elections usually run more positive campaigns because they are seeking support from a majority of voters, not just their base. 3) RCV elections encourage more candidates to run for office because candidates can not be spoilers. 4) Exit polling shows that a super majority of voters find RCV easy to understand 5) RCV elections aren't new. RCV elections are currently being run in cities, counties, and states around the country. Finally, using RCV in party primaries and general elections is especially important or activy-duty military members who are deployed overseas. The time it takes to request a ballot, receive a ballot, fill-out a ballot, mail a ballot, and receive the ballot in the election office, could take up to 45 days. Using current voting methods, a mail-in ballot voter could only select one choice. If a candidate drops out of the race during this 45 day period, the voter's vote is essentially wasted. In RCV elections, if a candidate drops out of a race, the voter's ranked choices are reallocated to the remaining candidates. V-PI appreciates your support for RCV!

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports the expansion of ranked choice voting, permitted in HB 1751, HB 2118, and HB 2436. We believe that ranked choice voting or RCV would make our elections more accessible, would promote nominees with broad support, and would ensure that every voter’s voice is heard. RCV has already been used to select candidates for general election races in Virginia, including recent Republican Party primary elections. RCV is of particular benefit in crowded races, where voters typically may decide to vote strategically to avoid “wasting” their vote on a candidate who has little chance of winning. Additionally, the field can be in flux as candidates drop out, raising the chance that voters will cast a ballot for an inactive candidate. This may be especially true for Virginians who are living overseas, including members of our armed forces, who vote early to help ensure their ballots arrive in time. Giving voters the option to rank candidates in order of preference gives a voter a chance to still have a consequential vote on their ballot. RCV additionally produces nominees with strong and widespread support, even in a crowded field of candidates. By requiring a majority support, RCV incentivizes candidates to build an inclusive campaign and appeal to the broadest group of primary voters. Many voters feel that they must vote strategically in regular elections, by voting for someone whom they believe has the best chance of defeating their last choice in a primary, rather than selecting the candidate who best represents their views. Five states used RCV in the 2020 presidential primaries and caucuses, including Hawaii; Alaska; Kansas; Wyoming; and early voters in Nevada.

Ranked Choice Voting only occurs when there are three or more candidates in an election. Voters get to fully express themselves by ranking the candidates in their order of preference. RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters can be more confident in the results. In US localities where Ranked Choice Voting has been adopted, polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. RCV is also called Instant Run Off Voting, because it gets to a majority result, but without an all-day long convention with multiple rounds of voting. RCV is more efficient, innovative, and encourages competition without similar candidates splitting the vote. Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All bills in this Subcommittee proposing expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023. At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling law. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. Please support Ranked Choice Voting bills.

Please vote NO on HB 2436. The traditional method of voting, with the candidate with the most votes winning, is far superior to ranked choice voting (RCV). RCV obscures a voter’s true intentions, by allowing for numerous tallies of recreated ballots, that discard some voters’ first-choice candidates and moving 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th choice candidates into a first-place position. It is likely that a ballot will have multiple candidates from at least one party, creating a split in their supporters, with the outcome that neither wins a majority of votes. RCV is also the LEAST transparent of voting methods, with the various vote tallies at different stages difficult for anyone to track or verify. The public’s already high distrust in Virginia’s election process would be exasperated by using RCV.

Dear Delegates: Please support HB1751, HB2118, and HB2436 expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. RCV allows for candidates to win with a majority, so results can better reflect the communities the candidate will serve. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only. School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. The bills expand the option to use RCV for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. Please support adding more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's elections. Sincerely, Erin Coady Portsmouth

Good afternoon. I am writing to ask you to please support, or co-sponsor, bills expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life. Numerous polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it again. RCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, and voters are more confident in the results. Results are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serve. All proposed bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties. The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023. At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation. Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections only, School boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot program. Recent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in. Nearly two-thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner. When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Best Regards, Lucas N Hall Bon Air (Chesterfield), Va

Please support or co-sponsor bills expanding the option to use Ranked Choice Voting in more elections. RCV is easy for voters to understand. We rank things in daily life.Polls show that the majority of voters who have used RCV like it, understood it, and would do it againRCV requires candidates to win with a true majority, voters are more confident in the resultsResults are often more reflective of the communities the candidate will serveAll four bills expanding the option to use RCV are optional for localities and political parties.The State Election Department has already promulgated regulations for administering RCV elections. They will work with Virginia's first locality to administer an RCV election in June 2023At least one locality in Virginia did not adopt RCV because of the limited scope of our current enabling legislation.Current law allows for RCV in Board of Supervisor or City Council elections onlySchool boards and other local offices are not included in the pilot programRecent school board elections in Loudoun County provided plurality results that voters could not be confident in.Nearly two thirds of voters in the two, three-way races, voted for a candidate other than the winner.When parties use RCV for nominating, they efficiently get to the most electable candidate in one ballot and in one round of voting. Let's add more options for Ranked Choice Voting to Virginia's election and nominating toolbox. For more information on Ranked Choice Voting visit www.rcvresources.org or www.fairvotevirginia.org Sincerely, Andrew J. Franke President Ravensworth Press Town of Elkton

I OPPOSE this bill. RCV is not right for Virginia because: -RCV redistributes votes and obscures voter support -Every vote does NOT count -Precinct reporting will be a logistics nightmare -Reporting will be delayed -Its more expense -It is real, not imagined voter suppression

I'm writing to express my support this bill. Rank-choice voting is a better way to vote. * It give better representation of the electorate. * For early voting, it ensures ALL cast votes are counted in the event a candidate drops out. * It avoids the need for run-off elections (e.g. Georgia) Sincerely, Brian DeRocher