Senator Jain Heralds Successful Defense of Initiative 83 Before Congress, Calls on D.C. Council to Fund It in Fiscal Year 2026 Budget

(Washington, D.C.)—According to Congress, March 14th was the last day of the disapproval resolution period for the Ranked Choice Voting and Open the Primary Elections to Independent Voters Act of 2024, or Initiative 83. No disapproval resolutions were filed in either house of Congress by this deadline, meaning that Initiative 83 is officially the law in Washington, D.C. The disapproval resolution period for I-83 has now ended, and any bills seeking to repeal I-83 will have to go through regular order and are subject to filibuster in the Senate. U.S. Senator Ankit Jain (D-D.C.) issued the following statement in response to this news:

“My office convened a group of advocates and allies who worked hard to prevent Initiative 83 from being disapproved by Congress. I am ecstatic that our hard work has paid off, that the will of D.C. voters has not been overturned, and that we have taken the next step to ensure that Washingtonians can vote through ranked choice voting and that independents are allowed to vote in party primaries in D.C. starting with the 2026 primary election. I will remain vigilant in defeating any future efforts to repeal I-83.

I am proud to have done my job to defend Initiative 83 before Congress. Now I call on the D.C. Council to comply and fund all elements of I-83 in next year’s budget. Initiative 83 passed with 73% of the vote, winning a supermajority in all eight wards; Washingtonians have made themselves heard loud and clear that they support ranked choice voting and wish to allow independents to vote in party primaries. Every elected official in Washington, D.C. is a strong advocate for D.C. statehood because we believe the will of Washingtonians should be respected. Accordingly, Members of the Council of the District of Columbia should fund Initiative 83 in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and ensure all aspects of this bill take effect in 2026.”