Q. Why combine the two reforms?
A. They work well together and both make politicians work harder! Letting independents vote makes them work for more voters and Ranked Choice Voting makes them compete for your backup choices.

Q. Isn’t ranked choice voting too complicated and confusing?
A. No. People rank things everyday: from the school lottery, to public housing buildings, to what people order when they go out to eat. It’s a proven system and voters overwhelmingly understand it and want to keep using it.

Q. Why don’t the mayor and some Councilmembers support this?
A. Many politicians have won under the current system and are used to not having to work very hard to keep their position. Initiative 83 would make them have to work harder for more votes (and for back-up choices).

Q. Doesn’t this harm Democrats or dilute the power of Black voters?
A. No. It doesn’t hurt or harm any particular party, ideology, or racial group, but simply makes politicians have to work harder for more votes. It’s a proven system that has actually helped preserve Black elected representation in the face of displacement.

Q. Isn’t this being pushed by big money outsiders?
A. We are being funded by neighbors across DC, local DC community food co-ops, FairVote (a national ranked choice voting advocacy organization based in Silver Spring, MD), and Dr. Bronner’s soap company. Our funding goes towards native Washingtonians being hired to educate communities East of the River so they can make an informed decision about this potential change to our system.

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