As ranked choice voting becomes increasingly more popular, Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn will hold a town hall meeting on May 11 to discuss this voting method and what it could mean for Fairfax County.

“As ranked choice voting expands locally with Arlington County, D.C. and Greenbelt, Maryland using it in their elections—and a new state law that makes it a permanent option in Virginia — it’s time for Fairfax County to look more seriously at how it might work here," Supervisor Alcorn said. "This is why I’m holding my town hall to help educate residents about this voting method and get their feedback on whether it’s a good option for county voters.”

Event Details

• Date: Monday, May 11
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Location: North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston

Town Hall Panelists

The town hall will feature insights from two key voices in the field of election administration and reform:

• Gretchen Reinemeyer, director of elections for Arlington County: As the first jurisdiction in Virginia to pilot ranked choice coting, Arlington has used this method for electing its board members during its 2023 primaries and the 2024 and 2025 general elections. Reinemeyer will provide a firsthand look at how the process works, the lessons learned, and the feedback received from voters.
• Liz White, executive director of Up Vote Virginia: A leading voice in the nonpartisan movement to improve election systems, White will discuss the broader implications of ranked choice voting.

A representative from the Fairfax County Office of Elections will also be in attendance to provide local context, share their insights and answer questions.

Ranked Choice Voting in Virginia

A new state law passed on April 22 established ranked choice voting as a permanent, optional voting method for county, city and town governing body elections, and it requires the Virginia State Board of Elections to provide standards and regulations for ranked choice voting and provide voter education materials about it.

Localities were first authorized to implement ranked choice voting in 2021, but the General Assembly’s original legislation sunset this voting method on July 1, 2031. However, ranked choice voting became permanent with this month’s passage of SB 176.

To date, only two local governments in Virginia have implemented ranked choice voting. Arlington County was the first, using it for their 2023 primary elections for their Board of Supervisors. More recently, the City of Charlottesville implemented it for its city council election last year.

About Ranked Choice Voting

Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference instead of voting for only one.  This gives voters a voice in deciding who represents them—even if their first-choice candidate doesn’t win.

It’s currently used in over 62 jurisdictions across the United States, including New York City, Minneapolis, and Albuquerque. Alaska and Maine use it in their statewide elections.

More Info

For more information about this event, please contact the Hunter Mill District Office by email or call 703-478-0283, TTY 711