The proposed resolution, introduced by Councilmember Wendell Felder, declares an emergency regarding the need to amend the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955. It mandates the Board of Elections to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to evaluate the District's readiness to implement ranked choice voting (RCV). This assessment will include an analysis of voter awareness, public perception, equity and access impacts on marginalized communities, and a review of best practices from other jurisdictions that have successfully implemented RCV. The resolution emphasizes the necessity of a detailed implementation plan, cost model, operational timeline, and a voter outreach and education strategy to ensure a smooth transition to RCV.

The resolution highlights that the current legal framework does not require the Board to complete a pre-implementation needs assessment, which poses risks of inadequate preparation and potential disenfranchisement of historically marginalized communities. It stresses the importance of emergency legislation to ensure that the Board undertakes the necessary assessments and planning before deploying RCV. The Council determines that immediate action is required to safeguard voter access and prevent administrative failures, allowing the resolution to take effect immediately after a single reading.