Dear Commissioners Menser, Mejia and Edwards:

We are writing collectively to urge you to affirm your support for the Washington VOICES (Voting, Options, Implementation, Compliance, Education, and Standards) Bill, which would permit municipalities to adopt ranked-choice voting to choose elected officials. 

In June, 2023, the Washington Supreme Court specifically named ranked-choice voting as a solution for lack of fair and equitable representation at the local level of government. It is something our state needs, and will soon be demanding. To stay in compliance with the Washington Voting Rights Act, it is essential that ranked-choice voting be available to any city or county in Washington that wants it.

 In 2022, Seattle voters adopted the use of RCV for future elections. Cities and counties across Washington are eager to use ranked-choice voting in their local elections. The city councils of Snohomish, Spokane, Seattle, Gold Bar, Bellingham, Burien, Olympia, Ferndale and Vancouver, as well as Snohomish County, have all passed resolutions in support of the Local Options Bill.

It is not only necessary, but advantageous to pass state-level legislation that will offer a uniform approach to adopting and implementing ranked-choice voting so that voters in our patchwork of charter and non-charter jurisdictions remain united in their understanding of voting processes. 

Ranked-choice voting is used by two states state-wide and at the federal level (Maine and Alaska), and by dozens of cities in over half the states in the United States in red and blue states alike. 

We urge you to voice and affirm your support for the use of ranked-choice voting at the local level. 

Sincerely,