Alaska retained ranked choice voting after residents defeated a ballot measure to repeal the reform system by a close margin, according to state elections officials.
Unofficial results show Alaskans voted 50.1% to 49.9% to rebuff Measure 2, a ballot effort to repeal RCV and return the state to partisan primaries and plurality general elections.
State officials are recounting the votes and are set to certify the results on Nov. 30.
The Last Frontier State has only operated with RCV systems in state-wide elections for a few years. Alaskan voters narrowly approved Measure 2 in 2020 and adopted the system that emphasizes majority rule, where instead of casting a single vote for their favorite candidate for office, voters rank the candidates in order of preference.
Proponents of the voting strategy say it cuts down on negative campaigning, forces candidates to appeal to a variety of voters, gives citizens greater choice, and delivers majority winners and the best candidates in a crowded field.
The “No on 2” campaign, which urged Alaskans to reject the ballot measure, celebrated the news.
“Once again, voters made their voices heard and, once again, voters approved open primaries and ranked choice voting, a system that honors Alaskans’ independence and rewards elected leaders who work together to address the challenges that face our state. This is truly a win by Alaskans, for Alaskans, which will benefit our state for generations to come,” the pro-RCV group said in a press release.
The state’s former Republican Lt. Gov. Loren Leman was one of the advocates of repealing RCV, calling the reform method “disastrous and confusing.” He said, ultimately, the campaign outspent opponents by a large margin, propelling it to victory.
“It was like 100 to one,” he told Alaska Public Radio. “And you know, when you have a campaign like that, it’s really tough to respond, and especially to all the deception. It was really just a very difficult campaign.”
He also criticized the campaign’s tactics and alleged it was fueled by “dark money” in an op-ed to Must Read Alaska in September.
Maine is the only other state where RCV is utilized in state-wide elections.
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Four states had ballot measures to adopt ranked choice voting this year. Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon voters all rejected the proposition at the ballot box on Nov. 5.
While RCV isn’t popular for statewide voting, multiple major cities across the country, including New York City and San Francisco, have adopted the reform system.