YES on 83 Campaign to Submit Over 40,000 Signatures

Broad Support from D.C. Voters Across All 8 Wards

*Proposer, Campaign Staff, & Petition Circulators Available for Interview & B-Roll*

WASHINGTON, DC — The YES on 83 Campaign, formally known as Make All Votes Count DC and the sponsors of Initiative 83, will submit over 40,000 signatures from District of Columbia voters to the D.C. Board of Elections (DCBOE) on July 1 at 1:00pm EST. Members of the press are invited to attend a nearby press conference beforehand, with light refreshments at 11:30am and official remarks from Initiative 83 Proposer Lisa D. T. Rice at 12:00pm EST.

Initiative 83, also known as “The Ranked Choice Voting and Open The Primary Elections to Independent Voters Act of 2024,” would allow registered independents to participate in D.C.’s currently-closed primary elections and implement ranked choice voting in all District elections beginning in June 2026. The 40,000 collected signatures originated from all eight wards, with at least 5% of registered voters signing in each ward, respectively, and over 7% in total citywide. These totals put the YES on 83 Campaign’s submission well ahead of the DCBOE’s required thresholds—approximately 22,500 signatures, with at least 5% participation in five wards—and one step closer towards getting Initiative 83 on voters’ ballots this November.

“Such broad support of Initiative 83 across the District is not just empowering, but a clear sign that D.C. voters are hungry for more equitable and inclusive elections,” said Lisa D. T. Rice, Initiative 83 Proposer, native Washingtonian, and Ward 7 ANC Commissioner. “These numbers reflect a recurring theme that our dedicated grassroots team has been hearing over the past six months: that the status quo is anything but democratic. Initiative 83 will change that.”

WHAT: Press conference followed by submission of petitions to the DCBOE
WHEN: Monday, July 1 – 11:00am Refreshments / 12:00pm Press Conference / 1:00pm Submission of Petitions at DCBOE
WHERE: 3rd floor Meeting Room, 800 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, D.C.

After the press conference, members of the campaign, led by Lisa D.T. Rice, will walk the over 40,000 signatures to the nearby DCBOE and officially submit the ballot access petitions. Members of the press are encouraged to RSVP by visiting www.makeallvotescountdc.org/petition-submission-press-conference/.

For more information about the Yes on 83 campaign visit: www.YesOn83.org