Clark County, Washington, Amendment 10, Ranked-Choice Voting Measure (November 2022)

Clark County Amendment 10
Election date November 8, 2022
Topic Local elections and campaigns and Local electoral systems
Status Defeated
Type Referral

Clark County Amendment 10 was on the ballot as a referral in Clark County on November 8, 2022. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported enacting ranked-choice voting for elections of Clark County officials beginning on January 1, 2026.

A "no" vote opposed enacting ranked-choice voting for elections of Clark County officials beginning on January 1, 2026.

Election results

Clark County Amendment 10
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		80,772	41.94%
No		111,812	58.06%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Amendment 10 was as follows:

“

Concerning Ranked-Choice Voting for County Elected Positions The Clark County Charter Review Commission adopted Resolution No. 2021-8 proposing an amendment to the Clark County Home Rule Charter, concerning County Elected Offices. If approved, this amendment would make the County Elected Offices determined by ranked choice voting as of January 1, 2026.

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

FairVote Washington led the campaign in support of the measure.

Supporters

Officials

• Former U.S. Rep. Brian Baird
• State Rep. Monica Jurado Stonier (D)

Arguments

• State Rep. Monica Stonier: "I’m somebody who’s been elected in a very partisan role in a very partisan swing district with very tough conversations to have across the aisle and then in a very strong Democratic district … would have benefited from having a cleaner conversation — in both those race—when it comes to just making sure voters know who they are supporting and taking the politics out of it."
• Former U.S. Rep. Brian Baird: "The issue has to be about, is this good for our democratic republic form of government. Will it lead to more citizen engagement? Will it help elect people who can work together, who can solve problems? Will it reduce the tone of antagonism and hatred, even, and bring people together? I think ranked choice voting will do that."

Opposition

Opponents

Political Parties

• Clark County Republican Party

Arguments

• Clark County Republican Party: "The average voter needs to know that ranked choice voting increases the cost of an election, will add a number of days, possibly over a week, to learn the winner of some races, and in its complexity would create more concern as to the integrity of our election process. NAACP members along the East Coast have raised concerns that this type of voting is discriminatory. Pierce County tried it, and quickly got rid of it. This is the last thing Clark County voters need."

Background

Ranked-choice voting (RCV)

See also: Ranked-choice voting (RCV)

The ballot measure has played a role in shaping electoral systems in the U.S., including ranked-choice voting (RCV) for state and local elections.

Since 1915, there have been more than 150 ballot measures to adopt or repeal ranked-choice voting systems. Ashtabula, Ohio, was the first jurisdiction to approve a ranked-choice voting measure in 1915.

RCV is an electoral system in which voters rank candidates on their ballots. RCV can be used for single-winner elections or multi-winner elections; when used for multi-winner elections, the system has also been called single-transferable vote or proportional representation. These terms were often used to describe multi-winner RCV before the 1970s. You can learn more about ranked-choice voting systems and policies here.

Local RCV ballot measures

See also: History of ranked-choice voting (RCV) ballot measures

Between 1965 and 2024, 79 ranked-choice voting (RCV) local ballot measures were on the ballot in 58 jurisdictions in 19 states.

• Ballotpedia has located 71 local ballot measures to adopt RCV. Voters approved 52 (78.9%) and rejected 15 (21.1%).

• There were eight local ballot measures to repeal RCV. Voters approved four (50.0%) and rejected four (50.0%).

• The year with the most local RCV ballot measures was 2022, when nine were on the ballot in nine jurisdictions. Voters approved seven of them.

• The state with the most local ballot measures related to RCV is California, where there have been 13.

The following table shows the number of ranked-choice voting measures by topic.

Local ranked-choice vote measures by topic and outcome, 1965 - April 2025
Topic	Total	Approved	Approved (%)	Defeated	Defeated (%)
Adopt RCV	72	57	79.2%	15	20.08%
Repeal RCV	8	4	50.0%	4	50.0%
Total	80	61	76.3%	19	23.7%

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in Washington

In December 2021, the Clark County Charter Review Commission voted 11-4 to place the measure on the November ballot.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Washington

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Washington.

How to vote in Washington

Poll times

Washington is an all-mail voting state. Individuals who prefer to vote in person rather than by mail may do so at local voting centers, which are open for 18 days prior to the election. The voting period ends at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Contact your county elections department for more information on voting center locations and times.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Washington, one must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the state, and at least 18 years of age.

One may register to vote online, by mail, or in-person at a county elections department. Registration must be completed eight days in advance if done by mail or online. In-person registration is available through Election Day.

In 2018, Washington lawmakers enacted legislation providing for same-day voter registration and automatic voter registration.

Automatic registration

Washington automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles, health benefit exchange, and other state agencies approved by the governor.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Washington has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Washington allows same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Washington law requires 30 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Washington does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who knowingly provides false information or knowingly make a false declaration about their qualifications "will have committed a class C felony that is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars, or both."

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site Vote WA, run by the Washington Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Washington is an all-mail voting state and does not require voters to present photo identification (ID). Voters may choose to vote in person at a local voting center. According to state law RCW 29A.40.160, “The county auditor shall require any person desiring to vote at a voting center to either sign a ballot declaration or provide identification.”

The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2025. Click here for the Washington State Legislature's voter ID regulations to ensure you have the most current information.

• Driver's license
• State identification card
• Student identification card
• Tribal identification card
• Employer identification card

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2022
• Voting policy measures on the ballot

Washington

• Washington 2022 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Washington
• Clark County, Washington

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas