Board of Elections outlines aggressive outreach and technical plans ahead of May–June ranked‑choice rollout

The District's Board of Elections told the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor on March 5 that it is intensifying voter education and operational preparations ahead of the 2026 election cycle and the city’s first use of ranked‑choice voting (RCV) in June. Monica Evans, the Board’s executive director, said BOE will mail ballots to every registered voter, operate 25 early‑voting centers and 75 election‑day vote centers, and place 55 mail‑ballot drop boxes across the city.

Evans described a multi‑pronged outreach effort that includes a new RCV app, mock ballots and a demonstration lab at BOE headquarters where residents — including candidates and community groups — can practice the ballot and watch sample tabulations. "We are absolutely committed to doing what we can to make sure voters are ready," Evans told the council. She said BOE plans to attend ANC and civic meetings, visit senior facilities and libraries, and run print, radio and digital advertising tailored to populations with low registration.

Council members pressed BOE on several operational risks: the agency described recurring vote‑center accessibility issues identified by Disability Rights DC and told the committee its ADA coordinator had resigned and is being replaced. On equipment, BOE said some polling devices and tabulators have reached end‑of‑life and estimated roughly $3,000,000 would be required to replace touchscreen machines and related maintenance agreements to avoid delays on election day. Evans also discussed contingency planning for electrical or HVAC failures at facilities and described logic‑and‑accuracy testing and backup procedures used to vet equipment prior to deployment.

On technical questions from council members about voter errors under RCV, BOE staff explained that privacy rules and the requirement for private voting limit the extent to which on‑screen prompts can block a voter from casting a ballot; BOE said the touchscreen interface will show a review screen before final submission and that paper ballots will include statutory instructions. The agency also plans targeted on‑site help at busier vote centers and special training for site coordinators.

The board confirmed it will use the open‑source RCTab tabulation software for RCV counting and is exploring whether to livestream round‑by‑round tabulation or provide expanded public viewing. "We want to have a media day" to help the public and press understand tabulation results and avoid confusion if reported totals shift during rounds, Evans said.