Greenbelt Voters Approve Ranked Choice Voting by 2-to-1 Margin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Michelle Whittaker, Executive Director 
michelle@rcvmd.org
240-595-2317

Greenbelt Voters Approve Ranked Choice Voting by 2-to-1 Margin
First city in Prince George’s County; second in Maryland to approve ranked choice voting. 

Greenbelt, MD (November 5, 2025) – Greenbelt voters decisively approved Advisory Referendum 1 to adopt ranked choice voting for the city’s council elections. By a 2-1- margin, 67% of voters affirmed moving forward with the new voting system. Voters also elected a new council that will be seated on November 10, 2025. The Council will be responsible for taking the next steps to enact the referendum as a law. 

Greenbelt becomes the first city in Prince George’s County and the second city in Maryland to approve ranked choice voting for local elections. Takoma Park approved ranked choice voting in 2007.

“Greenbelters took a big step forward for representative democracy,” said Michelle Whittaker, Executive Director for Ranked Choice Voting Maryland. “Voters will have a stronger voice in electing candidates to the council, and communities that have been underrepresented will have the opportunity to have a seat at the table.”

Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference – first, second, third, and so on. The system is used in 50 cities, counties, and states by 17 million Americans, and exit polls show that voters understand and like RCV wherever it’s used. 

Question 1 enables the Council to replace the city’s at-large plurality elections with proportional ranked choice voting. Multiple candidates are elected by reaching the winning vote share threshold for the number of seats being elected. For Greenbelt’s 7-member council, the threshold is 12.5 percent. RCV will deliver both majority rule and minority voice, address problems of vote dilution and strategic voting, and ensure that nearly every Greenbelt voter will have at least one candidate on their ballot elected to office. 

“Ranked choice voting gives people more say over the direction of the city,” said Emily Frais, resident of Greenbelt and RCV supporter. “By replacing the city’s legacy voting system, we empower everyday people to create a more inclusive community.”

Ranked Choice Voting Maryland conducted voter education in support of the ballot question. A rally in support of ranked choice voting in late October featured U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (CD-8) and State Delegate Ashanti Martinez (LD-22).

With the approval of Question 1, the implementation process begins, which will include community outreach, changes to the city’s election code, and election equipment and procedural updates.

About Ranked Choice Voting Maryland

Ranked Choice Voting Maryland is a nonpartisan, 501(c)3 organization seeking to build a more effective, representative democracy through ranked choice voting elections. RCV Maryland works with advocates and elected leaders at the city, county, and state level to modernize Maryland’s voting systems. For more information, visit www.rcvmd.org.