Early results suggest Alaska will keep current election system

Alaska voters are trending toward keeping the state’s current election system. Early results from Tuesday night indicate that Ballot Measure 2, which proposed repealing the state’s election laws, is failing.

As of 8:40 p.m. Tuesday, 45 of the state’s 400 precincts had reported. In those precincts, 56.7% of votes were cast against the measure. The measure would have repealed the ranked choice voting system, open primaries, and specific campaign finance reporting requirements.

The current election laws were adopted by ballot measure in 2020 and have been in use since 2022. Under these rules, all primary candidates appear on a single ballot. The top four vote getters advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Ballot Measure 2 sought to return the state to partisan primaries and single-candidate general elections.

The Alaska Republican Party and President Donald Trump criticized the current system before the election. They argued the process was confusing and led to unexpected results. Supporters of the existing system, including the Alaska Federation of Natives and labor organizations, countered that it promotes moderate candidates and bipartisanship in the Legislature.

The No on 2 campaign raised more than $10.4 million. The backers of the measure raised $2.5 million. Both campaigns received primary funding from billionaires outside the state. This is the second attempt to repeal the system, after a similar initiative failed narrowly in 2024.

The No on 2 campaign emphasized the open primary aspect of the laws. They noted that ranked choice voting is only relevant if the top candidate does not win a majority, an uncommon scenario. The Repeal Now campaign focused on the general election process. Their slogan was “yes to end the mess,” citing recent unusual candidates in federal races.

The election system includes campaign disclosure laws that track political spenders. Ballot Measure 2 would have repealed these laws. Opponents of the repeal argued these rules allow voters to see the names of donors who use dark money groups. The story is developing as more precincts report results.