DCAEYC Hosts Ranked Choice Voting Session Ahead of DC Primary Election

This June, many DC voters will encounter a different kind of ballot. For the first time in a DC primary election, residents will use Ranked Choice Voting, a system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting only one. With the primary set for June 16, voter education has become an essential part of helping residents feel prepared before they cast their ballots.

On May 12, DCAEYC hosted a nonpartisan educational session in partnership with Rank the District, a project of Grow Democracy DC Civic Education Fund. Held at the DCAEYC Office in the West Boardroom, the session brought community members together for a practical conversation about what will change, what will stay the same, and how voters can avoid common mistakes.

The presentation was led by Brandon Bush-Thompson, Engagement Coordinator for Grow Democracy DC, who walked participants through the process step by step. He explained that voters may rank up to five candidates, beginning with their first choice and continuing only with candidates they support.

“You do not have to use all five of them if you do not want to,” Bush-Thompson said. “Only mark the people that you support.”

He also explained what happens after ballots are counted. A vote stays with a voter’s first-choice candidate unless that candidate receives the fewest votes and is eliminated. If that happens, the vote moves to the next ranked candidate on that voter’s ballot.

The session also addressed common errors, including marking more than one candidate for the same ranking, ranking one candidate multiple times, or skipping multiple rankings. Bush-Thompson encouraged voters to be intentional, careful, and clear when completing their ballots.

Watch Brandon Bush-Thompson explain how Ranked Choice Voting works, including how voters can rank their choices, what happens if a first-choice candidate is eliminated, and which ballot mistakes residents should avoid.

For DCAEYC, the session was an opportunity to support informed civic participation in a year when many residents will be learning a new voting process. Early childhood education professionals, families, partners, and community members had space to ask questions and leave with a clearer understanding of what to expect in June.

DCAEYC is grateful to Brandon Bush-Thompson, Rank the District, and Grow Democracy DC Civic Education Fund for helping bring this educational opportunity to the community, and to everyone who joined the conversation.

Community members with additional questions can contact Grow Democracy DC Civic Education Fund at educate@growdemocracydc.org or learn more through Rank the District.