Alaska voters are set to decide on Tuesday whether to repeal the state’s ranked-choice voting system, a process that has come under scrutiny following a controversial effort by Democrats to influence this year’s U.S. Senate race through candidate recruitment tactics. The ballot measure, known as Ballot Measure 2, seeks to end Alaska’s current open primary and ranked-choice general election system in favor of traditional partisan primaries and single-choice general elections.
The ranked-choice system was established after voters approved open primaries and ranked ballots in 2020. Under this model, all candidates compete in a single primary regardless of party affiliation, with the top four advancing to the general election. Voters then rank candidates by preference, and if no one receives a majority of first-choice votes, the lowest-ranked candidates are eliminated with their votes reallocated until a majority winner emerges.
Opponents of the system, primarily Republicans, argue it is confusing and susceptible to manipulation. Their position gained momentum after reports emerged that Democrats had recruited a candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan to run alongside incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, creating potential voter confusion in a tight race against Democrat Mary Peltola. A liberal political action committee also promoted conservative candidate Gerald Heikes, aiming to siphon votes from the incumbent. These developments have triggered federal and state investigations, including a review by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Judy Eledge, chairwoman of the campaign advocating for repeal, described the maneuver as confirmation that ranked-choice voting should be discarded. “They’ve done our work for us,” she said, highlighting concerns about voter confusion. Similarly, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, a Republican leaving office this year, said the debate would be unnecessary without the ranked-choice system.
Supporters of ranked-choice voting maintain the system reduces the risk of spoilers and encourages bipartisanship. Joelle Hall, a labor leader opposing Ballot Measure 2, described the current situation as a case study demonstrating the need for ranked-choice voting, where voters can express multiple preferences to mitigate vote splitting. Scott Kendall, the Anchorage attorney who helped design the system, dismissed the candidate recruitment scheme as a “dirty trick” unrelated to the voting method itself.
The governor’s race also features the ranked-choice system, with Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins leading against multiple Republican contenders. Some Republicans have urged others to withdraw to avoid splitting votes, while Donald Trump has publicly supported the top Republican candidate, Bernadette Wilson, urging others to drop out.
Ballot Measure 2 would revert Alaska to closed primaries, where only registered party members may vote, and a plurality-based general election. It would also repeal new campaign finance disclosure rules enacted with the ranked-choice system, a change that current system supporters warn could reduce transparency.
The vote has drawn national attention and substantial funding, with donors such as Elon Musk and Jeff Yass backing repeal efforts, while figures including Michael Bloomberg and Kathryn Murdoch support maintaining ranked-choice voting.
If the repeal passes, it could alter Alaska’s political landscape by reintroducing more partisan-driven elections and concentrating power within party leadership. Some conservatives hope this will marginalize Republicans like Senator Lisa Murkowski, who has taken moderate positions and recently endorsed a Democrat in the governor’s race. However, Murkowski has shown political resilience, having successfully launched a write-in campaign in 2010 after losing a Republican primary.
As Alaska prepares to vote, the referendum represents not only a choice about electoral mechanics but also a proxy battle over broader national debates on election reform and voter representation.