June 24, 2026 – A new SurveyUSA poll finds that supermajorities of Washington, DC voters say that ranked choice voting is simple and they support it. Washington, DC used ranked choice voting for the first time for its June 16 election; the reform passed with 73% of the vote in 2024 as part of Initiative 83. Polling was conducted among 542 likely and actual voters from June 12 to June 18. 

Key findings of the poll include: 

• 78% of Washington, DC voters say their ranked choice voting ballot is simple to complete, compared to 15% who say it is difficult. The percentage saying it is simple rises to 87% among respondents who had already voted. 
• 74% say they support the ability to rank candidates on their ballots, with just 18% opposed. 
• 71% say they understand RCV extremely or very well, with another 23% saying they understand it somewhat well. Only 5% say they do not understand it well. 
• 68% of voters say independents should be allowed to vote in primary elections, with just 16% opposed. This policy also passed as part of Initiative 83, and the Council voted yesterday to fund and implement it.
• 69% say they ranked two or more candidates in at least one race on their ballot, with 24% saying they only ranked one candidate.  
• Among voters who ranked two or more candidates, 59% say “ranking allows me to support all the candidates who align with my values.” Among voters who ranked only one, 56% say “I only like one candidate.”  

“We passed Initiative 83 with 73% of the vote and we rank things every day – so it’s no surprise that the overwhelming majority of voters say that ranked choice voting is simple and they like it,” said Lisa D.T. Rice, CEO of Grow Democracy DC and Proposer of Initiative 83. “Ranked choice voting gives voters more voice and more power, and I am excited to see voters taking advantage of it. I’m grateful to the DC Board of Elections, Rank the District staff and volunteers, and community organizations who worked so hard to educate voters across all eight wards. That voter education work will continue – as we also implement the other half of Initiative 83, and let independents vote in DC’s primary elections.” 

“Everywhere ranked choice voting is used, voters say they like and understand it – and that is the case in Washington, DC,” said Deb Otis, Senior Director of Research and Policy at FairVote. “Ranked choice voting is off to a strong start in the nation’s capital. With RCV, voters get more choice and majority winners in crowded fields – a far cry from what we see in other states and DC’s own history, where candidates have routinely won with 20 or 30% of the vote.” 

The new poll adds to a growing evidence base nationwide showing that majorities of voters like and understand RCV where it is used. 

Additional findings of the poll include: 

• 86% of voters say they knew they would be using ranked choice voting in this year’s elections. Among the most popular ways they learned: 
  • 44% say they learned from mailers from the DC Board of Elections. 
  • 29% say they learned from a friend or family member. 
• Washington, DC voters understand how ranked choice voting can make their voice more powerful. Among the most popular reasons for ranking two or more candidates: 
  • 59% say they ranked because doing so allows them to support all the candidates who align with their values.
  • 47% say they ranked because it gives their vote more power.
  • 47% say they ranked because they want to make sure their vote counts. 
  • 46% say they ranked because it gives them more of a say in who wins.

• Though majorities across all demographic groups say they find ranked choice voting simple and like it, there are some nuanced differences. 
  • For example, voters 65 and over are less likely to say ranked choice voting is simple, with 71% saying it is simple and 25% saying it is difficult. However, they are more likely than some younger voters to say that they ranked two or more candidates on their ballot – with 70% of voters 65 and over saying they did so, compared to 59% of voters under 35. 
  • Voters in Wards 5, 7, and 8 are most likely to say that independents should be allowed to vote in primary elections. 
• 30% of voters say campaigns were more positive this year, compared to 20% who say they were less positive. 41% say campaign tenor was about the same. 
  • The percentage of voters saying campaigns were more positive was highest in Ward 1 and Ward 2. Ward 1 also has the highest number of voters saying they were asked by a candidate to rank them, or to rank them as a second choice. 
• 79% of DC voters say it is important to know election winners within a day or two, with 17% saying it is unimportant. 

Poll Methodology 

SurveyUSA interviewed 542 likely and actual Washington, DC primary and special election voters from June 12 through June 18, which was conducted using a blended sample of telephone and online respondents. Credibility intervals range from ± 4.1 percentage points to ± 5.9 percentage points, with the median credibility interval across the survey being ± 5.9 percentage points. The full poll and crosstabs are available here. 

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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.