Published November 14, 2026 · By
Ranked choice voting will stay in place in Alaska after voters rejected a ballot measure that would have repealed the state's open primaries and ranked general elections, according to an Associated Press race call late Friday. It is the second time in two years that Alaskans have turned down an effort to return to partisan primaries and single-choice general elections.
The result keeps ranked choice voting, a system that has drawn national attention since it was first used in 2022, and it comes as ranked tabulations may still shape the final outcome of Alaska's closely watched U.S. Senate race.
Ranked Choice Voting Repeal Fails in Alaska
The AP reported from Juneau that voters rejected Ballot Measure 2, the latest attempt to undo the election system Alaskans narrowly approved in 2020. The measure would have brought back party primaries, replaced ranked general elections with races where voters pick a single candidate, and repealed some campaign finance disclosure rules that were adopted together with the current system.
Results tracked by FairVote, a nonprofit group that advocates for ranked choice voting, showed the "No" side ahead roughly 53% to 47% as of Nov. 13, and Decision Desk HQ had also projected that the repeal would fail. On election night, with about 98% of precincts reporting, Alaska Public Media found the "No" side with nearly 52% of the vote.
Counting is not finished. Alaska accepts absentee ballots that arrive up to 15 days after Election Day, so final totals will change before the state certifies results. Neither the AP nor other outlets reviewed for this article reported a final vote count.
A narrower fight in 2024
The 2026 ranked choice voting result follows a much tighter contest two years ago. In 2024, a similar repeal measure failed by just 743 votes, with 160,973 Alaskans voting no and 160,230 voting yes, according to certified results. That count took the full 15-day window, and the "No" side did not move into the lead until nearly two weeks after Election Day, according to FairVote.
The original 2020 measure that created the system passed by about one percentage point.
How Ranked Choice Voting Works in Alaska
Alaska's system has two parts. In the primary, every candidate for a given office appears on a single ballot regardless of party, and all voters may participate. The top four vote-getters advance to the general election, again regardless of party.
Under ranked choice voting in the general election, voters may rank those candidates in order of preference. If no one wins a majority of first-choice votes, the last-place candidate is eliminated, and ballots that ranked that candidate first are counted for the voter's next choice. The process repeats until one candidate has a majority of the remaining votes.
Voters are not required to rank more than one candidate. A ballot that marks only one choice still counts for that candidate for as long as he or she remains in the race. The Alaska Division of Elections explains the process and posts official results on its official website.
What Each Side Said
Opponents of the repeal
Ruth Hall, deputy campaign manager for the "No on 2" campaign, described the outcome as decisive in comments reported by the AP. She framed the vote as Alaskans choosing to keep the ability to pick the candidate they see as best for the job, regardless of party.
Supporters of ranked choice voting have argued that open primaries and ranked ballots give voters more options, push candidates to build broader coalitions and reduce the "spoiler" effect of minor candidates. The AP noted that supporters credit the system with a moderating effect on the Legislature, which has been run by bipartisan coalitions in recent years.
Backers of the repeal
The repeal effort was backed primarily by Republicans, according to Alaska Public Media. Its supporters, including President Donald Trump, have said ranked choice voting is confusing for voters. The AP reported that Trump has criticized the system for years.
Repeal backers also argued that the system can be gamed by candidates and political operatives. As one example, they pointed to Tom Begich leaving this year's governor's race after finishing second in the primary. The AP separately noted that parties and campaigns have at times pressured lower-placing primary candidates to drop out so that higher-profile candidates face a clearer path. The AP said it left a message seeking comment from a leader of the repeal campaign; no response was reported.
Who Paid for the Campaigns
The ranked choice voting fight drew large donations on both sides. As of late October, the group behind the measure, Repeal Now, had raised nearly $2.6 million, according to Alaska Public Media. Its main funder was the Aurora Action Network, which received $1.5 million from Elon Musk. Other major donors named in reporting included Jeff Yass, Timothy Mellon and Jeffery Hildebrand.
Opponents of the repeal had raised about $10.4 million over the same period, with major contributions from Michael Bloomberg, Kathryn Murdoch and Kimbal Musk, Alaska Public Media reported. Campaign finance figures will be updated in post-election filings.
Why the Result Matters Beyond Alaska
Alaska is one of the most closely watched tests of ranked choice voting at the statewide level, and its election cycle this year shows how the system can affect results. FairVote's preliminary ranked tabulations, based on ballot data available as of Nov. 12, offer a snapshot of how the ranked count could play out in several major races:
- U.S. Senate: Democrat Mary Peltola led with 48.6% of first choices and edged Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan 50.5% to 49.5% in the simulated ranked count.
- U.S. House: Republican Rep. Nick Begich led with 48.8% of first choices and beat Democrat Bill Hill 53% to 47% in the simulated ranked count.
- Governor: Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins led in first choices, and media outlets have since projected him the winner.
FairVote cautioned that its tallies are unofficial and incomplete. For more on those contests, see our coverage of the Mary Peltola Senate count and the Alaska governor race.
Analysis: Because the Senate race remains close and no candidate appears to have a first-choice majority, the ranked tabulation could decide that seat. Keeping ranked choice voting in place means the current counting rules will govern the final outcome rather than any new rules.
What It Means for You
If you vote in Alaska
- Nothing changes for now. Ranked choice voting stays, and future state and federal elections in Alaska will continue to use a single open primary and a ranked general election.
- You can rank as many or as few candidates as you like. Ranking a second or third choice does not hurt your first choice.
- Disclosure rules stay. The campaign finance disclosure requirements adopted in 2020 remain in effect because the repeal failed.
- Watch for certification. Final results come after the 15-day window for absentee ballots closes. Check the Alaska Division of Elections for official numbers.
If you live elsewhere
Ranked choice voting remains a live issue in state legislatures and on ballots around the country. Supporters cite results like Alaska's as evidence of voter acceptance, while opponents point to the narrow 2020 and 2024 margins and the heavy outside spending as signs the debate is far from settled. If your state is considering changes to its primary or general election system, reading the ballot language closely and checking how a measure would affect primaries, runoffs and disclosure rules can help you understand what is at stake.
Key dates and numbers
- 2020: Voters adopt open primaries and ranked general elections by about one point.
- 2022: First elections held under the system.
- 2024: Repeal fails by 743 votes.
- Nov. 3, 2026: Second repeal attempt on the ballot.
- Nov. 13, 2026: AP reports voters rejected the repeal.
The Bottom Line on Ranked Choice Voting
For the second time in two years, Alaska voters have chosen to keep ranked choice voting and top-four open primaries. Supporters say the outcome reflects support for broader choice, while repeal backers, including President Trump, continue to argue the system is confusing. Final certified numbers are still to come, and the ranked count may yet decide the state's U.S. Senate seat.
Sources: Associated Press (via WSLS and KIRO 7), Alaska Public Media (KTOO), FairVote, Alaska Division of Elections (elections.alaska.gov), Wikipedia summary of official 2024 Alaska Ballot Measure 2 results.
