Alaskans vote to keep ranked-choice voting, rejecting repeal measure

Alaskan voters rejected Ballot Measure 2, preserving the state's ranked-choice voting system, open top-four primaries, and 2020 campaign finance rules. Prominent Republicans, including Governor Mike Dunleavy, Representative Nick Begich, and President Donald Trump, supported the repeal effort, arguing the system confuses voters. The vote follows scrutiny over a candidate sharing the name of Senator Dan Sullivan. Alaska first adopted the system in 2020.

Outcome of Alaska ballot measure 2

• ▪According to projections by Decision Desk HQ and NBC News, Alaskan voters rejected Ballot Measure 2, preserving Alaska's open top-four primary format, general election ranked-choice voting, and campaign finance provisions enacted in 2020
• ▪A ballot measure attempting to repeal ranked-choice voting in Alaska was narrowly rejected in 2024 by fewer than 800 votes, representing less than 1 percentage point of the total vote

Republican opposition to ranked-choice voting

• ▪Republican opponents of Alaska's ranked-choice voting system argued that ranking candidates is overly confusing for voters
• ▪Republican leaders including Representative Nick Begich and President Donald Trump supported efforts to repeal Alaska's ranked-choice voting system

Mechanics of Alaska's election system

• ▪In Alaska's general elections, if no candidate receives over 50 percent of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and support is redistributed to voters' second preference
• ▪Under Alaska's open primary system, all candidates appear on a single primary ballot regardless of political party, with the top four vote-getters advancing to the general election

Controversy over Dan j. Sullivan's Senate candidacy

• ▪Democratic candidate Mary Peltola and her campaign denied pushing retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan to enter the Alaska Senate race or participating in his campaign
• ▪A federal judge dismissed an effort by the Donald Trump administration to segregate ballots cast for Alaska Senate candidate Dan J. Sullivan
• ▪The New York Times reported that Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign was involved in recruiting retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan to enter the Alaska Senate race against Republican Senator Dan Sullivan