| Action | RCV Batch Elimination Amendments |
| Stage | Final |
| Comment Period | Ends 7/1/2026 |
 |
10 comments
I urge the State Board of Elections to reject the proposed amendment allowing batch elimination of candidates in Virginia’s ranked choice voting (RCV) administrative rules.
The proposed change would create an unnecessary exception to the standard elimination process in voting rounds. It would undermine the transparency and verifiability that current regulations provide to the public. Specifically, it sets aside the clear, sequential process outlined in 1 VAC 20-100-50 B (particularly the structure requiring elimination of the active candidate with the fewest votes in each round when no majority is reached). This deviates from the statutory definition in § 24.2-673.1 of the Code of Virginia, which describes RCV tabulation as proceeding in rounds where “the last-place candidate is defeated.”
Section § 24.2-673.1 defines ranked choice voting as a method in which tabulation proceeds in rounds such that in each round a candidate or candidates are elected or the last-place candidate is defeated, with votes transferred accordingly. The administrative code should implement and clarify this statutory framework—not introduce exceptions that alter its core mechanics for the sake of expediency. Batch elimination obscures the step-by-step progression of vote transfers that allows voters, candidates, observers, and the public to independently verify results using the reported data.
While the goal of faster tabulation is understandable, especially in contests with many candidates, this convenience comes at the cost of public confidence. Sequential single-candidate elimination provides a distinct, auditable path that aligns with the law’s intent. Truncating or batching this process muddies the tabulation, reduces transparency, and risks eroding trust in election outcomes without any compelling justification that outweighs these drawbacks. Virginia should prioritize accuracy, verifiability, and fidelity to statute over procedural shortcuts.
I respectfully request that the Board maintain the current single-candidate elimination rule in 1 VAC 20-100-50 to preserve the integrity and transparency of RCV in the Commonwealth.
Thank you for considering this comment.
The proposed amendment would replace Virginia's current round-by-round elimination procedure with a mathematically derived batch elimination process. Although the amendment maintains that the same eventual outcome would result, it would do so at the expense of transparency and public verifiability.
Current regulations allow election officials, candidates, the media, and citizens to observe each successive elimination and transfer of votes. This sequential process creates a clear record of how the outcome is reached and permits independent verification of each stage of the tabulation. By contrast, batch elimination compresses multiple rounds into a single computational determination, reducing the visibility of intermediate results and increasing reliance on software and specialized mathematical analysis.
The proposed change also has the effect of portraying ranked choice voting as a simpler and less complex process than it actually is. By collapsing several rounds into one, the amendment obscures the full sequence of vote transfers that would otherwise be visible under current regulations. While this may make the process appear more straightforward, it does so by limiting public visibility into how the final result is achieved. Transparency in election administration should be advanced through openness and full disclosure, not by reducing the amount of information available for public observation.
Democratic legitimacy depends not only on mathematically correct outcomes, but also on the ability of citizens to observe, understand, and independently verify the process by which those outcomes are produced. Election procedures should favor transparency and auditability over administrative efficiency, particularly in voting systems that many voters already find difficult to understand.
Election procedures should not simplify the appearance of the counting process by reducing the visibility of that process. Rather, they should maximize transparency so that the public can see and verify every stage by which election outcomes are determined.
Accordingly, the existing sequential elimination procedure should be retained. The benefits of transparency, public understanding, and independent verifiability outweigh any efficiencies that may be gained through batch elimination.
I urge the State Board of Elections to reject the proposed amendment allowing batch elimination of candidates in Virginia’s ranked choice voting (RCV) administrative rules.
The proposed change would create an unnecessary exception to the standard elimination process in voting rounds. It would undermine the transparency and verifiability that current regulations provide to the public. Specifically, it sets aside the clear, sequential process outlined in 1 VAC 20-100-50 B (particularly the structure requiring elimination of the active candidate with the fewest votes in each round when no majority is reached). This deviates from the statutory definition in § 24.2-673.1 of the Code of Virginia, which describes RCV tabulation as proceeding in rounds where “the last-place candidate is defeated.”
Section § 24.2-673.1 defines ranked choice voting as a method in which tabulation proceeds in rounds such that in each round a candidate or candidates are elected or the last-place candidate is defeated, with votes transferred accordingly. The administrative code should implement and clarify this statutory framework—not introduce exceptions that alter its core mechanics for the sake of expediency. Batch elimination obscures the step-by-step progression of vote transfers that allows voters, candidates, observers, and the public to independently verify results using the reported data.
While the goal of faster tabulation is understandable, especially in contests with many candidates, this convenience comes at the cost of public confidence. Sequential single-candidate elimination provides a distinct, auditable path that aligns with the law’s intent. Truncating or batching this process muddies the tabulation, reduces transparency, and risks eroding trust in election outcomes without any compelling justification that outweighs these drawbacks. Virginia should prioritize accuracy, verifiability, and fidelity to statute over procedural shortcuts.
I respectfully request that the Board maintain the current single-candidate elimination rule in 1 VAC 20-100-50 to preserve the integrity and transparency of RCV in the Commonwealth.
Thank you for considering this comment.
The suggested amendment would replace Virginia's current round-by-round elimination procedure with a mathematically derived batch elimination process. Although the amendment maintains that the same eventual outcome would result, it would do so at the expense of transparency, public verifiability, and ultimately the public's confidence in the election outcome.
Current regulations allow the public to observe the details by which candidates are eliminated due to each successive round specified in the current Ranked Choice Voting process. Alternatively, the proposed amendment uses an algorithm that undermines the transparency that is necessary to enhance confidence in the result, particularly among those candidates (and their supporters) who are automatically eliminated by this process. The Commonwealth of Virginia should be taking steps to ensure that our election processes are MORE transparent, not less. This is crucial in today's environment especially, where many credible concerns have been expressed about the security of our elections overall.
Therefore, I urge you to please retain the existing sequential elimination procedure.
Stop the chaos and unnecessary spending; opposed!
Election Transparency improves voter confidence in election results
The suggested amendment would replace Virginia's current round-by-round elimination procedure with a mathematically derived batch elimination process. Although the amendment maintains that the same eventual outcome would result, it would do so at the expense of transparency, public verifiability, and ultimately the public's confidence in the election outcome.
Current regulations allow the public to observe the details by which candidates are eliminated due to each successive round specified in the current Ranked Choice Voting process.
The proposed amendment uses an algorithm that undermines the transparency that is necessary to enhance confidence in the result, particularly among those candidates (and their supporters) who are automatically eliminated by this process.
The Commonwealth of Virginia should be taking steps to ensure that our election processes are MORE transparent, not less.
I urge the Virginia State Board of Elections to reject the proposed amendment to 1 VAC 20-100-50 that would replace the current sequential, round-by-round elimination process with a mathematically derived batch elimination method.
Virginia law (§ 24.2-673.1) defines RCV tabulation as proceeding in rounds, in which the last-place candidate is defeated and votes are transferred until a majority is reached. The existing administrative rule faithfully implements this by eliminating the active candidate with the fewest votes in each round when no majority exists. This creates a clear, observable sequence of eliminations and vote transfers that election officials, candidates, observers, media, and citizens can follow step by step.
Batch elimination compresses multiple rounds into a single computational step. While proponents claim it produces the same final outcome, it does so at a significant cost to transparency, public verifiability, and democratic legitimacy. Key drawbacks include:
Election procedures should prioritize transparency and strict fidelity to the statute rather than carve out exceptions for administrative convenience. The modest efficiencies offered by batch elimination do not justify the damage to public trust, independent verifiability, and alignment with the law’s clear intent of sequential, round-by-round tabulation.
Recommendation: Retain the current single-candidate sequential elimination rule in 1 VAC 20-100-50. Virginia should set a high standard in election administration by emphasizing openness, auditability, and step-by-step transparency—especially when adopting a new voting system. Procedural shortcuts that reduce visibility serve neither voters nor the integrity of the process.
Preserving the sequential elimination process strengthens RCV’s legitimacy in the Commonwealth.
Opposed. This initiative eliminated all visibility - this is unacceptable.
This initiative eliminates all visibility to how the numbers are rolled up. Unacceptable!
I am opposed!
Suzanne Hughes
