Democracy works best when every voice is heard and every neighborhood has a seat at the table. Yet Charlottesville's current electoral system creates barriers that prevent our city from reaching its full democratic potential. Our at-large elections can leave entire communities without dedicated representation, while expensive citywide campaigns favor candidates with access to significant funding over those with fresh ideas and deep community roots. Meanwhile, partisan primaries import national political divisions into local decisions about parks, schools, and housing that should unite us around shared community values.
With daily threats to our democracy, the time has come to meet the moment with proven reforms that strengthen citizen participation and improve governance. Join your neighbors in pledging support to grassroots solutions that make our city stronger!
🗺️ Switch to district-based voting.
Our current at-large system means all council and school board members are elected citywide, which can leave entire neighborhoods without dedicated representation. Candidates focus on high-turnout areas while neglecting communities that need the most attention, and the high cost of citywide campaigns creates barriers for qualified candidates without major financial backing. Here's why district-based voting is the solution we need:
Every neighborhood gets a dedicated council and school board member who lives in and understands their community.
Candidates can run affordable, grassroots campaigns focused on local issues rather than expensive citywide races.
More diverse representation as different districts reflect different demographics and priorities.
Clear accountability—residents know exactly who represents them and can hold them responsible.
🗳️ Make ranked choice voting permanent.
Traditional voting can split support among similar candidates, allowing someone with minority support to win. This discourages good candidates from running and forces voters to choose between their true preference and who they think can win. In the 2025 Democratic primary for City Council, Charlottesville piloted ranked choice voting and here's why we need to make it permanent:
Voters rank candidates in order of preference, ensuring the winner has majority support.
Eliminates the "spoiler effect" so voters can support their true first choice without fear.
Encourages positive campaigning since candidates want to be voters' second choice too.
Reduces negative attack ads and promotes coalition-building.
📋 Establish non-partisan local elections.
Even in a progressive community like Charlottesville, partisan labels can overshadow the nuanced local expertise and collaborative problem-solving our city deserves. When we focus on party affiliation rather than candidates' specific vision for affordable housing, climate action, or equitable development, we risk missing opportunities to elect the most qualified and innovative leaders. Here's why we should follow the lead of other Virginia cities and use non-partisan local elections:
Allows voters to evaluate candidates based on their specific plans for housing affordability, climate resilience, and racial equity rather than party labels.
Encourages innovative policy solutions that might not fit traditional party frameworks but serve our community's progressive values.
Attracts diverse candidates including community organizers, policy experts, and activists who may not engage with traditional party structures.
Prevents outside political interests from influencing local races through party machinery and national funding.
✉️ Pilot public campaign financing for local offices.
Running for local office requires significant personal wealth or connections to wealthy donors, shutting out qualified candidates who lack financial resources. This system gives outsized influence to big donors and special interests while limiting voter choice. It doesn't have to be this way – we can pilot public campaign financing through small donor matching:
Incentivizes candidates to build broad grassroots support rather than rely on a few large contributors.
Amplifies the voices of working families, students, and everyday residents who can't afford big donations.
Creates a level playing field where candidates succeed based on community support, not personal wealth.
Allows candidates to spend time talking to voters instead of constantly fundraising from wealthy interests.