A final ballot count on Nov. 20 cemented the narrow lead for supporters of Alaska’s ranked-choice voting and open primary system, who defeated a ballot measure that would have done away with the state’s 4-year-old voting process.
After 6,074 additional ballots were counted, bringing the total to 340,110 ballots in the decision, the repeal initiative, Ballot Measure 2, was on track to narrowly fail in a 49.9% to 50.1% split. Its losing deficit after the Nov. 20 final count was 664 votes.
Supporters of the ballot measure argued that the open primaries and ranked-choice voting system was confusing and took away political parties’ power to shape electoral outcomes. Opponents of the repeal said the voting system — which was narrowly adopted by initiative in 2020 and first used in 2022 — favored centrist candidates who were more likely to overcome partisan gridlock.
The results for the repeal effort, and other races that appeared on the Nov. 5 statewide ballot, won’t be finalized until the end of the month, when the elections review board is set to complete its work. Once the results are certified, voters have up to five days to request a recount.
If the final count puts the gap at less than 0.5% of votes (1,700 for the ballot measure), the state must cover the cost of the recount. Otherwise, a recount would be conducted if those requesting it agree to cover its cost.
The retention of ranked-choice voting and open primaries could have far-reaching consequences.
A coalition of left-leaning and moderate legislators in the Alaska House has announced its plans to form a majority in the legislative session that starts in January. A bipartisan coalition has organized for the Senate, too. A return to political party-controlled primaries would weaken the chances of forming bipartisan coalitions between moderate Republicans, Democrats and independents.
Alaska’s recent election results have shown that some Republican state lawmakers have been rewarded for their willingness to join bipartisan coalitions, rather than hold tight to the right on social issues and other conservative causes.
Proponents of Alaska’s voting model tried this year to implement similar voting systems in several other states. In most states where ranked-choice voting or open primaries were on the ballot — including Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon — voters decidedly rejected the reforms.
In Alaska, proponents of the voting method spent nearly $15 million opposing the repeal initiative. That is more than 100 times what supporters of the ballot measure spent promoting their cause. But the Alaska Republican Party also threw its weight behind the repeal initiative. Party leaders argued that the voting method took away its power to shape results through partisan primaries.
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