Seattle will become the third-largest city in the United States to use Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). In the 2022 midterm elections, voters approved RCV for primary races for city attorney, mayor and city council races. Under Seattle’s old primary system, candidates could move on to the general election even if they didn’t win a majority of the vote. Under RCV, candidates will now be forced to appeal to – and would be accountable to – a wider base of the city’s voters. Seattle residents will now have better choices and better representation in city government. Voters will be able to count on elected officials who are more accountable to them, instead of the entrenched political establishment. Congrats to the Seattle for RCV coalition, which spearheaded this effort from the start!

Proposition 1B: Ranked-choice voting (RCV) for Seattle’s primary races for city attorney, mayor, and city council.

To pass RCV in November, Seattle voters should: (1) vote YES on Proposition 1, which asks whether you want to change the way elections are run in Seattle, and (2) vote YES on Proposition 1B, which says that the type of voting you would like to adopt is ranked-choice voting.

Sample ballot:

Seattle currently uses a plurality voting system for primary elections for the mayor, city attorney, and city council, in which the candidate receiving the most votes advances to the general election. This system of voting can lead to candidates winning their primary even if they didn’t win a majority of the vote.

Seattle for RCV started their campaign to improve Seattle’s elections by making sure candidates have to appeal to and are accountable to a wider base of the city’s voters. RCV takes power away from the entrenched political establishment and gives power to the voters – where it belongs.

Seattle for RCV is a coalition of organizations and advocates who want to bring more voice and better choice to Seattle voters. Some organizations involved include FairVote Washington, Washington for Equitable Representation, Washington CAN, PROTEC 17, More Equitable Democracy Action, and RepresentUs.