FairVote celebrates reintroduction of Ranked Choice Voting Act

December 10, 2025 – FairVote celebrated today’s reintroduction of the Ranked Choice Voting Act by Reps. Jamie Raskin (MD-8) and Don Beyer (VA-8), and Sens. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Andy Kim (D-NJ). The Ranked Choice Voting Act would institute ranked choice voting for all primary and general elections for the U.S. House and Senate.

“The Ranked Choice Voting Act will give voters more choice and more power. It will make Congress more responsive and more accountable to the people they represent,” said Meredith Sumpter, president and CEO of FairVote, a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections. “At a time when polarization and gridlock are making it harder for Congress to deliver for the American people, ranked choice voting gives members of Congress incentives to lead, legislate, and govern together.” 

“Ranked choice voting is a great advance in democracy. It gives voters more power at the ballot box and makes our politics more positive and inclusive, encouraging candidates to connect with more voters,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin. “I’m proud to partner with Representative Beyer and Senator Welch on this important legislation to keep growing and improving electoral democracy.”

“Polarization in Congress is worse than ever, and this is making it harder and harder for Congress to solve basic problems for the American people,” said Rep. Don Beyer. “Ranked choice voting would help fix our broken political system by changing election incentives to favor leaders who build broad and diverse coalitions focused on solutions rather than divisive rhetoric. This reform would strengthen our democracy and make Congress more responsive to the needs of the people we represent.”

“Our democracy is at its strongest when everyone is heard and represented. Ranked choice voting offers an opportunity to break through polarization and strengthen our democracy by ensuring that our elected candidates have received the broad support of the folks they’ll represent,” said Senator Peter Welch. “I’m proud to join my friends and former colleagues Representatives Raskin and Beyer on this pro-democracy bill to make our elections more equitable, more civil, and more representative.”

“Empowering voters couldn’t be more important at a moment when so many people feel detached and disillusioned with our politics. With so much that is broken, ranked choice voting can help reinforce the American people as the drivers of our democracy and make sure that everyone’s voice is heard equally at the ballot box, and by those they chose to represent them in Congress,” said Senator Andy Kim. 

Ranked choice voting (RCV) is one of the fastest-growing voting reforms in the nation, and has now grown to over 50 states, counties, and cities home to 17 million Americans across the nation. RCV has won 33 of its last 34 city ballot measures, and is used in the largest cities in seven states. 

Ranked choice voting gives voters more choice and more voice, ensures elected officials win with majority support, and can help turn down the temperature of our politics. Voters are free to support their favorite candidates, without fear of wasting their vote or playing “spoiler.” Candidates are rewarded for running more positive campaigns and appealing to a wider range of voters – including by asking for their 2nd- and 3rd-choice support. Everywhere it’s used, voters say they like and understand RCV. 

As part of the Ranked Choice Voting Act, the 10 states with congressional runoff elections would use ranked choice voting instead, saving tens of millions of dollars and preventing the 41% average turnout drop of congressional runoffs. Ranked choice voting is often called “instant runoff voting,” and military and overseas voters in six Southern states have long used RCV ballots to participate in runoffs. The Ranked Choice Voting Act would also appropriate funding for voter education and implementation costs.

The Ranked Choice Voting Act is also co-sponsored by Reps. Steve Cohen, Angie Craig, Pramila Jayapal, Summer L. Lee, Teresa Leger Fernández, Kelly Morrison, Seth Moulton, Ilhan Omar, Scott Peters, Chellie Pingree, Delia Ramirez, and Shri Thanedar. The full text of the RCV Act is available here. Voters can ask their members of Congress to support the Ranked Choice Voting Act using this link.

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FairVote is a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections for all. We research and advance voting reforms that make democracy more functional and representative for every American.