Alaska Election: Voters Keep Ranked Choice Voting

Alaska voters rejected a ballot measure that would have dismantled the state’s open primary and ranked choice voting system. The decision was finalized during the Nov. 3 election, marking the second consecutive attempt in two years to overturn the process.

The measure sought to revert the state to partisan primaries and general elections where voters select a single candidate. It also included provisions to repeal specific campaign disclosure rules. This is the third time since 2020 that Alaskans have voted on the fate of this election structure.

The current system was adopted by a narrow margin in 2020 and used for the first time in 2022. Under these rules, all candidates in a race appear together on the primary ballot. The top four vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election. In that final vote, citizens rank their preferred candidates.

Supporters of the system argue it provides voters with more options and requires candidates to build coalitions across party lines. They contend the process has had a moderating effect on the state Legislature, which has operated under bipartisan coalitions in recent years. Opponents, including President Donald Trump and donor Elon Musk, have criticized the system for years, describing it as confusing to the average voter.

Ruth Hall, deputy campaign manager for the successful No on 2 campaign, said the victory was decisive. “When Alaskans say we want the freedom to choose the best person for the job, regardless of party affiliation, and the right to know who is spending in our elections, we mean it,” Hall said in a statement.

A message seeking comment was left for a leader of the repeal effort. The outcome maintains the status quo for the next general cycle, preserving the method where major parties and campaigns have occasionally pressured lower-placing primary candidates to drop out of the general election.