CONTACT: Shannon Grimes, Sightline Institute, shannon@sightline.org
SEATTLE, WA – The Washington Protect Our VOICES (Voting Options, Implementation, Compliance, Education, and Standards Act) Act would clarify the rules and create guidelines for local governments looking to implement ranked choice voting, providing consistent standards for voters and election administrators across the state.
Sponsored by Rep. Gregerson and Rep. Farivar, HB 2210 is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations today, January 13, at 1:30 p.m. There are a few updates from the bill’s 2025 legislative counterpart, HB 1448, namely: an emergency clause that would put the bill into effect immediately , a 6-year window for jurisdictions to opt in, and new intent language.
“At a time with so much frustration around our elections, our local governments need every tool available to them to grow meaningful representation,” said Shannon Grimes, lead of Democracy and Elections at the regional nonprofit think tank Sightline Institute. “This bill gives our cities and towns one more tool, ranked choice voting, and guidance to use it. It charts a plan that will ultimately lead to coordinated, economical, and time-saving adoption for local governments who see the benefits of reform and want to opt in.”
Ranked choice voting—where voters can rank candidates in order of preference—allows voters to elect leaders who have support from the true majority. Ranked choice voting avoids distortions from “spoiler” candidates, discourages smear campaigns, and has been shown to elect leaders who are more representative of their communities.
As Washington cities and counties move ahead to improve their elections, state legislators can support local jurisdictions with streamlined implementation guidelines and baseline legal requirements to coordinate rollout.
- In June 2023, a Washington state Supreme Court case explicitly named ranked choice voting as a legal remedy for voting rights violations. Charter counties and charter cities can switch to the voting method any time they like.
- Clear legislative guidance is necessary and gaining urgency as Seattle prepares to begin using ranked choice voting in 2027 local elections, paving the way for other jurisdictions. Portland, Oregon used ranked choice voting for the first time in its 2024 local elections.
- Statewide legislation could help clarify standards for local governments and smooth the path for county auditors and administrators who might have to manage conflicting rules, ballot design, and reporting requirements across cities, ports, and school districts. Other states including Colorado, New Mexico, and Virginia have benefited from similar statewide guidelines.
The bill is supported by the Washington Voting Justice Coalition.
Related research and analysis:
- With Ranked Choice Voting Coming to Washington State, It’s Time to Coordinate Rollout | State legislators can support local jurisdictions with streamlined implementation guidelines.
- Reporting on Ranked Choice Voting in Portland’s Elections | Resources for journalists and editors.
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Shannon Grimes is a Director of Sightline Institute’s Democracy + Elections program, where she focuses on electoral reforms in Washington and Oregon. Find her latest research here.
Sightline Institute is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank providing leading original analysis of democracy, energy, and housing policy in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, British Columbia, and beyond.
