Voters in Juneau come out of the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall voting location on Nov. 8, 2022. (Photo by Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)
Ranked choice voting elections have been advancing and retreating since first developed in Denmark in the 1850s. The method was explored in Australia, Ireland, and, in the early 20 th century, the U.S. After waxing and waning here during the ‘30s and ‘40s, since the 1960s, the ranked voting process has slowly spread. As reported by Fairvote.org tracking , ranked choice voting in the U.S. occurs in “2 states, 3 counties, and 45 cities.” Now, according to rankedvote.co , a software company, the method is on the 2024 ballot in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, D.C.
In Alaska, the state’s open primary and ranked choice system will also be on the ballot—for repeal, unless a Supreme Court appeal prevents it.
One argument Republicans make for repeal is that their party cannot field its own candidates. This is not exactly true as nothing prevents a party from sponsoring or endorsing candidates. What Republicans want in general is a return to the party-controlled, closed system of voting that helped it dominate Alaska election outcomes.