Vote for the Richmond People’s Budget project

Get the 101 on this community-driven funding project + how you can vote on the allocation of $3 million.

A person with a grey shirt and brown cap holds up a large yellow paper with handwritten plans for a "Title Tot Lot Community Fridge." The paper also includes, "Description: revamp existing playground and place community fridge + little free libraries (kids focus)", "Cost: $10,000", and "Impact: Create safe space to promote collective community responsibility"

Locally contributed ideas were considered + refined into formal proposals during the project’s first two phases. | Photo via Quincy Coppage

“Our City. Our Money. Our Ideas.” That’s the mission statement behind Richmond People’s Budget, an initiative started by locals to encourage community participation in a $3 million spending budget from the city.

The People’s Budget: a brief timeline

Phase 1 — Brainstorm
Last year, residents submitted nearly 2,000 budget spending ideas across Richmond’s nine city council districts.

Phase 2 — Develop
Ideas were narrowed down and polished into approximately 10-15 project proposals per district.

Note: You can read an overview of each district’s initial proposals on the Phase 2 page. Here’s an example for District 1.

📍 Phase 3 — Vote
Richmonders (aged 14+) can now vote on their preferred district proposals until Tuesday, April 15.

Phase 4 — Fund
Voter-selected proposals will receive funding, and project action will occur between July 2025 and June 2026.

Note: Projects that receive above 50% of the public vote will be funded first.

Ready to vote?

  1. Head to an in-person voting location or visit the online voting directory.
  2. Choose the Richmond district that you represent.

    Note: Here’s a guide to help.

  3. Submit an authentication code (if voting online), verify necessary personal information (name + neighborhood or zip code), and checkmark the Honor Pledge — confirming that you are a local resident aged 14+ and voting only once.
  4. Vote for up to three projects in your district.

    Note: Voting is ranked, so be sure to order your preferences + enter your top pick first.

  5. Submit.

Additional voting resources

Online voting tutorial

In-Person voting tutorial

All available voting resources

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