A Reminder About Ranked Choice Voting!
In this article, we remind you about how Alaska’s Ranked Choice Voting system works and answer a few common questions.The electoral fever doesn’t stop in Alaska, even after the municipal elections. It’s crucial to stay informed about issues of interest, candidates, and all the details of the campaigns as we approach the general election on November 5th. Particularly, it’s vital to pay attention to the electoral system, as in Alaska, we’ve implemented Ranked Choice Voting. Here’s a reminder of how this system works:
In each election, voters rank their choices in order of preference. You pick your favorite candidate as number one, your second favorite as number two, and so on. Therefore, the counting is a bit different from traditional elections: votes are counted in successive rounds. In the first round, the first preferences are considered. If a candidate receives the most votes, meaning 50% plus one vote, that candidate wins the election, and the counting stops. However, if no candidate achieves a majority, the tabulation by rounds begins. Here’s how it works: the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. If you voted for that candidate, it doesn’t mean your vote is lost. It will be counted towards the candidate you marked as your second choice. This process continues in successive rounds until only two candidates remain, and the one with the majority of votes wins. Thus, your opinion is considered at every step of the process. This change was approved by voters in 2020 and has been successfully implemented over the last few years, and although it’s a significant change, it offers benefits to strengthen our democracy. For example, now, a candidate must truly win the support of the majority to be elected. This is unlike the previous system, where a candidate could win with only 30% or 40% of the electoral support and not reflect the opinions of the majority. This makes campaigns less hostile and allows for the proliferation of diverse opinions. Additionally, it allows your opinion to be considered throughout the process. If your favorite candidate is eliminated, the order in which you rank the others still impacts the outcome. Ranked Choice Voting will be applied in all state and federal elections, allowing voters to rank candidates for positions such as governor, state legislator, president, senator, and congressman. It’s crucial to pay attention to all the candidates to know how you’ll rank them. Some frequently asked questions about Ranked Choice Voting include whether it eliminates the fact that each person can only vote once, but this is not the case. It’s still a single vote, but now your vote can reflect your opinion on multiple candidates. It’s also not necessary to rank all candidates. Only those you wish to, and you can still vote for candidates outside the list. However, you should be careful about giving the same preference to more than one candidate. It’s recommended to avoid it, as those and the following rankings will not be counted. Ranked Choice Voting promotes a more representative democracy by ensuring that candidates win the support of the majority of voters. With this system, voters can express their preferences more fully, leading to more inclusive and fair elections. |
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