Arlington voters will be able to select up to three County Board contenders, but no more, through ranked-choice voting this election season.
County elections director Gretchen Reinemeyer confirmed at an Electoral Board meeting on Tuesday that three will be the maximum number available to voters.
Limitations with the software used to conduct elections have limited voters’ ability to rank more than three choices. A planned acquisition of new voting equipment should change that, but the new tech won’t be on hand for the general election.
Five candidates qualified to compete for the County Board seat: Incumbent Democrat Takis Karantonis, Republican Bob Cambridge and independents Audrey Clement, Carlos De Castro “DC” Pretelt and Jeramy Olmack.
Arlington conducts County Board elections by ranked-choice voting. Other elections are held using the traditional winner-take-all format.
Ranked-choice voting was first used in a state-run election in Arlington’s 2023 County Board primary. In 2024, it was extended to the Board’s general election.
The new format has drawn mixed reviews, and education efforts continue. The county government has authorized $60,000 to support outreach efforts, and is expected to announce its partner in the initiative shortly.
At the more grass-roots level, Advance Arlington will open its fall season of programming with a community forum on ranked-choice. That will happen on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Lubber Run Community Center. Both in-person and online attendance options are available.
At the Electoral Board meeting, Arlington County Democratic Committee Chair Steve Baker also asked when the official county sample ballots would be placed online, so the public could see their choices.
“The sooner we are able to get a sample ballot up on the website, it will have the greatest benefit to voters,” Baker said.
Reinemeyer said county election officials have to wait to ensure there will be no surprise special elections as part of the Nov. 4 ballot.
While “we don’t anticipate any specials,” the office still has to hold off until the deadline to hold a special election has passed.
As for when sample ballots will available? “It should be posted before Labor Day, I hope,” Reinemeyer said.
More officers of election appointed: Arlington Electoral Board members on Aug. 12 appointed 41 new officers of election.
Those appointed may be called upon to work the polls during the Nov. 4 election, although Arlington typically has significantly more election officers available than needed, particularly in non-presidential election years.
The appointments made Aug. 12 are for terms running through February 2026. Individuals will be eligible for reappointment then.
Election officials laud legacy of Kitty Clark Stevenson: Members of the Electoral Board on Aug. 12 lauded the legacy of assistant registrar Kitty Clark Stevenson, who died June 4 at age 75.
Stevenson was active in Arlington elections management for more than two decades following service in other areas of county government.
Her work on elections began at the grass-roots level.
“She started, as many of us do, by working at the polls,” said county elections director Gretchen Reinemeyer.
That later evolved to a post on the elections staff, frequently dealing with the public.
“She had tremendous customer-service skills,” Reinemeyer said.
It was a view echoed by Electoral Board secretary Kim Phillip, who said those watching Stevenson handle phone inquiries would receive a “master class” in how to do it right.
According to a story told at the meeting, Stevenson’s first experience with the elections office helped shape her view of supporting voting rights.
As an Arlington young adult during the era of segregation, Stevenson came to the elections office to register to vote. She was ignored by a staffer at the front desk, who instead greeted and began to serve a white man who arrived after her.
The man asked that she be served first, as she had arrived first, but the behavior of the staff member stuck with her, Reinemeyer said.
Stevenson’s goal as a staff member was “to make sure every voter feels seen,” the elections director said.
Previously, Stevenson had worked for the county government as its first Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) officer. She also served on, and chaired, the Arlington Human Rights Commission.
Stevenson played a key role in ensuring Fire Station #8 was not moved from its Halls Hill location, as had been proposed by county staff.
Her commitment to that cause was personal — Stevenson’s father, Alfred Clark, served at the station and was the first Black fire captain in Arlington’s history.
