Alaskans have decided to stick with ranked-choice voting, rejecting a ballot measure that sought to repeal the system, NBC News projects.
This unusual voting method came under the spotlight after a controversy surrounding a potential spoiler candidate in the competitive state Senate race gained momentum in the final stretch of the election.
In Alaska, candidates from all parties run on the same primary ballot, with the top four finishers receiving votes advancing to the general election. Voters then rank these candidates in order of preference, and if no one eclipses the 50% threshold in the first round, the race moves to ranked choice.
Whoever comes in fourth place is eliminated and their supporters are redistributed based on how voters ranked the other candidates on the ballot. The process continues until a candidate reaches the majority.
While supporters of the system say it gives more power to voters and incentivizes candidates to not only appeal to the most extremist elements of a party, critics argue it sows confusion.
A week before Election Day, The New York Times reported that Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign had been involved in recruiting a candidate with the same name as Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan to run for Senate. Peltola and his campaign have denied pushing Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher, to enter the race or be involved in his campaign.
The episode is under federal and state investigation, although a federal judge earlier this month rejected an attempt by the Trump administration to separate ballots cast for Dan J. Sullivan.
Ranked-choice voting first took effect in Alaska in 2022, after voters approved it through a 2020 ballot. A similar effort to repeal it failed by fewer than 800 votes in 2024.
Open primaries and ranked-choice voting are not the only voting method that allows spoiler candidates. And supporters say the method softens the effects by allowing voters to rank multiple candidates.
Alaska and Maine are the only states to use ranked-choice voting for statewide elections.
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