Eight candidates for U.S. president appear on this 2024 Alaska absentee ballot, as well as instructions for ranked choice voting. (Photo by Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)
A ballot measure that would repeal Alaska’s open primary and ranked choice election system is trailing for the first time since unofficial election results were announced on Election Day.
As of Monday afternoon’s update , there are 192 more votes opposing the measure than supporting it. If the remaining roughly 5,100 ballots follow trends in absentee, early and questioned ballots so far, then Alaska will keep its voting system for at least another two years.
The Alaska Division of Elections vote count on Monday added 2,427 ballots of voters opposed to the measure and 1,340 supporting it.
The update led to a stark reversal in the lead. In the previous count, the yes votes led by 895 ballots. The 192-vote margin equals less than 1/10 of 1 percentage point of the 314,056 votes.
Recounts are only automatic under Alaska law in case of ties. But any group of 10 voters can ask for a recount within five days of the results being certified. The certification is scheduled for Nov. 30, so the recount application deadline is Dec. 5. The state will pay for a recount if the vote margin is less than .5%.