Contact: Robyn Sundlee, Sightline Institute, robyn@sightline.org
JUNEAU, ALASKA – Tuesday’s Election Day was the fourth time Alaskans used the ranked choice and open primaries system that voters approved in 2020. It was also the third time the election system itself was on the ballot, alongside a contentious US Senate race and novel governor’s race.
“No” on Ballot Measure 2 is narrowly leading in early results with 98% of precincts reporting.
Fact sheet: Alaska’s Ballot Measure 2
Given its large size, numerous remote communities, and voters living overseas—including military—Alaska has a 15-day absentee ballot return window, extending the final results delivery for about two weeks beyond Election Day to ensure all Alaskans’ voices are counted.
Researchers at the independent, nonpartisan think tank Sightline Institute have published on electoral systems for over 30 years, including extensive independent research and analysis on Alaska’s election model.
Sightline senior researcher Robyn Sundlee is available to discuss results, including the impacts of the open primaries and ranked choice election system on Alaska races, timing of final results, and year-to-year trends in voter turnout.
“Early counts suggest that once again, Alaskans want to keep their election system,” said Robyn Sundlee, a Juneau-based Senior Researcher at Sightline Institute. “Still, the outcome isn’t yet assured. Every vote really does matter, and in a state whose land mass is larger than Texas, California, and Montana combined, they take time to count.”
*Sightline Institute does not support or oppose any candidate, political party, or Alaska ballot measure.
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Robyn Sundlee is a Senior Researcher with Sightline Institute’s Democracy and Elections team, focusing on Alaska and its ranked choice voting and open primary system. Contact Robyn at robyn@sightline.org.
Sightline Institute is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank providing leading original analysis of democracy, energy, and housing policy in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, British Columbia, and beyond.
