The Alaska Supreme Court has upheld a lower court ruling that allows a ballot measure to repeal the state's ranked choice voting system.

This decision, issued on August 23, 2024, paves the way for Alaskan voters to decide the future of their controversial election method in the upcoming November ballot.

According to Fox News, the state's high court affirmed the summary judgment order of the superior court, with a detailed opinion to follow later.

The case originated from a challenge by three Alaska residents, led by Elizabeth Medicine Crow, who sought to disqualify the repeal measure based on allegedly defective petitions.

However, the Alaska Division of Elections had already certified in March that enough signatures were collected to qualify the initiative after allowing petitioners to rectify notarized errors in their paperwork.

Controversial History Of Ranked Choice Voting

Alaska voters narrowly approved ranked choice voting in 2020, with a slim majority of 50.55% supporting the measure.

Proponents argue that this system helps moderate candidates and significantly alters the election tabulation process from a simple majority framework to a multi-round counting system.

Under ranked choice voting, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate secures a majority in the first round, the candidate with the fewest "first votes" is eliminated, and their supporters' second choices are redistributed. This process continues until a winner emerges with a majority of votes.

The system has faced criticism, particularly from Alaska Republicans, following Democratic Representative Mary Peltola's surprising victory in 2022.

Peltola's win in the traditionally Republican state raised questions about the effectiveness and fairness of the new voting method.

Supporters And Critics Weigh In On The System

Proponents of ranked choice voting argue that it reduces partisanship in elections. They point to the 2022 Alaska elections, where both conservative Governor Mike Dunleavy and moderate Senator Lisa Murkowski emerged victorious, as evidence of the system's ability to represent diverse political views.

Critics, however, contend that the system is confusing and potentially undermines voters' first choices. Judy Eledge, a conservative activist and former schoolteacher from Alaska, expressed her concerns:

You basically don't get your first choice of who you want to win, and it enables people that otherwise would never win anything. It gives them enough to win and basically just destroys the party system within the state when it comes to elections.

On the other hand, some conservatives support the system. Chris Saxman, former Virginia State Delegate and current executive director of Virginia Free, noted that Virginia Republicans successfully used ranked choice voting in their 2021 convention candidate selection process, which ultimately led to winning back the governorship after a decade.

Implications For Future Elections In Alaska

The Supreme Court's decision allows the repeal initiative to appear on the November ballot, giving Alaskan voters the opportunity to reconsider their electoral system.

However, it's important to note that the 2024 general election in Alaska will still operate under the ranked choice voting system, regardless of the outcome of this potential repeal.

This development has sparked renewed debate about the merits and drawbacks of ranked choice voting. Supporters argue it promotes more moderate candidates and reduces partisan polarization, while critics contend it complicates the voting process and may not accurately reflect voters' primary preferences.

Conclusion

The Alaska Supreme Court's decision to allow a potential repeal of the ranked choice voting system on the November ballot marks a significant moment in the state's electoral history.

This ruling gives Alaskan voters the power to reassess and potentially reshape their voting process. As the debate continues, the outcome of this ballot measure could have far-reaching implications for future elections in Alaska and potentially influence discussions about voting systems in other states across the nation.