How Alaska's ranked choice voting system works
Summary
Alaska uses a nonpartisan primary that advances the top four candidates, followed by ranked choice voting in the general election. If no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes, the lowest-finishing candidate is eliminated and votes transfer to voters’ next choices until one candidate has a majority.Key Facts
- Alaska first used its top-four primary and ranked choice general-election system in 2022.
- Voters can rank as many or as few candidates as they choose.
- In the general election, a candidate who receives more than 50% of first-choice votes wins without further rounds.
- When no candidate wins a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and those ballots transfer to the next ranked candidate.
- In 2022, Democrat Mary Peltola won a special House election after ranked choice tabulation, with results reported 15 days after Election Day.
- The four candidates listed for the Alaska Senate general election are incumbent Dan S. Sullivan, Daniel J. Sullivan, Gerald Heikes and Mary Peltola.
- The Alaska Supreme Court allowed Daniel J. Sullivan to remain on the primary ballot and directed the Division of Elections to decide how to list him.
- In the August primary, Peltola received 49.5% of the vote, incumbent Dan Sullivan received 41.4%, and Daniel J. Sullivan received 2.5%.
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