Busboys and Poets supporting Ranked Choice Voting in DC

WASHINGTON, DC — One of DC’s most prominent, independent restaurants serving eight neighborhoods is actively supporting the campaign to collect signatures for Initiative 83. This ballot initiative, promoted by Make All Votes Count DC, would open DC’s closed primaries to independent voters and hold politicians accountable by implementing ranked choice voting in the nation’s capital.

“Ever since opening our first location in 2005, we have worked to uplift and provide connections for racial and cultural communities. Strengthening our democracy with more voices and viewpoints is a goal we can achieve with ranked choice voting,” said Andy Shallal, founder and CEO of Busboys and Poets who serves on the steering committee for Business for Democracy-DC, a campaign of the American Sustainable Business Network.

Each of the restaurant’s Washington locations will provide customers who are registered DC voters with the opportunity to sign a petition to put Initiative 83 on the November ballot.

“The voices of small business owners like Andy Shallal are important in our campaign to expand voter access by letting independents vote in primary elections and drive accountability with the election of candidates who win with a majority using ranked choice voting,” said Lisa D. T. Rice, proposer and Chair of Make All Votes Count DC.

“We are very appreciative of Andy’s commitment to strengthening our democracy and opening the election process up to thousands of voters who are now denied participation,” said Jim Epstein, DC native, Chair of the Business for Democracy-DC collaborative, entrepreneur and business investor.

“Ranked choice voting will promote cooperative problem solving by elected leaders and that results in an effective government that listens to all voters,” said Kimberley Jutze, owner of Shifting Patterns Consulting who serves on the Business for Democracy-DC steering committee.

About Make All Votes Count DC
The Make All Votes Count DC campaign is a group of neighbors behind Initiative 83, a bold ballot initiative to open DC’s closed primaries to independent voters and hold politicians accountable by implementing ranked choice voting in the nation’s capital.

About Business for Democracy
Business for Democracy is a campaign of the American Sustainable Business Network with state collaboratives raising the voice of small business as to the critical need to protect and strengthen democracy because it is essential to a vibrant entrepreneurial economy. American Sustainable Business Network is a movement builder in partnership with the business and investor community.