STATEMENT: DC Council Funds Open Primaries, Enfranchising 86k Independent Voters

The DC Council voted Tuesday to fund open primaries, upholding an overwhelming voter mandate to reform elections in the nation’s capital. In November 2024, Washington, D.C., voters passed Initiative 83 with 72% of the vote, approving both open primaries and ranked choice voting for local elections. Last year, the DC Council voted to fund and implement ranked choice voting, but declined to fund open primaries. 

Following today’s decision, nearly 86,000 independent voters will be able to participate in primary elections for city offices — after being excluded from those same elections just last week.

Unite America issued the following statement:

“This is a huge victory for all DC voters — but especially to the 86,000 independents who, prior to today, had no meaningful say in their representation. All tax-paying citizens in the District will now have the freedom to vote in the most consequential elections.

“We look forward to supporting the successful implementation of open primaries in DC.”

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Unite America is a philanthropic venture fund that invests in nonpartisan election reform to foster a more representative and functional government.

‍For More Information: Ross Sherman, Unite America Press Director, ross@uniteamerica.org, 207-749-2660

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