Tag: Ranked Choice voting

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President Donald Trump calls for repeal of ranked choice voting in Alaska

By: Sean Maguire, Alaska Beacon

 President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 2, 2025 in Washington, D.C. 

President Donald Trump on Friday called on Alaska voters to repeal ranked choice voting at the November election.

“The Wonderful People of Alaska desperately want to restore Free, Fair, and Honest Elections in their Great State, and get rid of their disastrous, and very fraudulent, “Ranked-Choice Voting,” Trump said on Truth Social.

An effort to repeal ranked choice voting in 2024 failed by just 737 votes. A separate repeal initiative, sponsored by figures aligned with the Alaska Republican Party, is set to appear on the 2026 general election ballot. 

Trump gave his “complete and total support” to supporters of the repeal effort, including U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich, both Alaska Republicans running for reelection in November. 

The president’s post was seized on by Republican candidates for Alaska statewide office who echoed his calls to strike down the voting system.

Alaska voters narrowly approved a ballot measure in 2020 that implemented ranked choice voting for state and congressional elections, alongside open primary elections and tougher campaign finance disclosure requirements. 

Ranked-choice voting in Alaska lets voters pick candidates in order of preference rather than choosing just one. If no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes, the lowest-ranked candidate is eliminated and those votes are redistributed until someone surpasses 50% of votes.

However, the new election system has been controversial. Opponents argue that ranked choice voting is unnecessarily complicated, while supporters say it has led to more moderate and consensus candidates elected.

Ranked voting, open primaries and the tougher campaign finance disclosure requirements would all be struck down if the 2026 ballot measure is approved by a majority of voters.

Alaska for Better Elections is a group running voter education campaigns in support of retaining ranked choice voting and open primaries. Executive Director Juli Lucky said Alaska’s election system has allowed policymakers across the political spectrum to work together without fear of challengers in partisan primaries. 

“I think Alaskans will reflect on the results we’ve seen to decide whether our system of open primaries, ranked choice voting, and the strictest campaign finance laws in the country works for them,” Lucky said by text message after Trump’s post. “Ultimately, Alaskans created and enacted this system, and Alaskans will decide whether we keep it.”

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Ranked Choice voting the hot button issue at last nights Assembly meeting

NOTN- City Officials said the next Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday featured lively discussion on ranked choice voting, a proposal that has drawn significant public comment.

The ordinance was discussed back in August and residents have been vocal about the topic.

Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting just one. “If your top choice doesn’t win, your vote still counts for your second choice,” said Deputy City Manager Robert Barr, “That’s the argument for ranked choice voting.”

Mayor Beth Weldon said Tuesday that the city will not move forward with adopting ranked-choice voting for municipal elections, following significant public testimony and a divided response from residents.

Although last night’s agenda was relatively light, Weldon said the proposed voting change drew the most attention.

“Ultimately, Ms. Atkinson tabled this indefinitely, which in one sense kind of kills it for a while,” Weldon said. “There are reasons for and against in in our emails that we got, there’s definitely people on both sides.”

Residents opposed to adopting ranked-choice voting cited concerns about cost, delays in results, and a desire to maintain what they described as a simpler system. Those who supported the change argued that it encourages more candidates to run and reduces fears of splitting the vote.

Juneau will continue using its current municipal voting system, while Alaska’s statewide ranked-choice system remains in effect, though repeal efforts are ongoing.

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Ranked Choice voting ordinance advances to November hearing

An early voting station is set up in the atrium of the State Office Building in Juneau, Alaska on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the first day of early voting for the 2024 Alaska primary election. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
An early voting station is set up in the atrium of the State Office Building in Juneau, Alaska on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the first day of early voting for the 2024 Alaska primary election. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

NOTN- Juneau’s proposal to adopt ranked choice voting in municipal elections is headed for another public hearing in November.

Deputy City Manager Robert Barr said the Assembly held its first hearing on the measure last night and advanced it to the Nov. 3 meeting.

“We had our first public hearing on it last night.” Said Barr, “an information release went out yesterday as well to help people understand how it would work in local elections.”

Under the proposal, voters could rank candidates in single-seat races, like for mayor or assembly. If no one wins a majority outright, the lowest-ranked candidates are eliminated and ballots are redistributed until one candidate secures over 50 percent.

The change would not apply to multimember races, like the school board, which would stay under the current system.

Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon said testimony so far has been split for and against the proposal.

“We had four people, two for it and two against it.” Said Weldon,”We’re keeping that on our radar.”

The city is weighing potential benefits and considerations, saying ranked- choice voting could add more consistency for voters and may increase the number of people willing to run for office, however they also note transitioning to a new election process could be difficult on voters and election staff, and counting could be more complex than the current voting system.

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Juneau Assembly advances seasonal sales tax and hazard mitigation plan in packed meeting

Centennial Hall, photo courtesy of CBJ

In a packed meeting Monday night, the Juneau Assembly approved key measures, including a proposed seasonal sales tax structure and the city’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, while deferring several bond issues and continuing deliberation on ranked-choice voting.

Deputy City Manager Robert Barr said one of the most significant decisions was the approval of a revised seasonal sales tax ordinance, which will now head to the October ballot for voter consideration.

“The idea is to have a lower sales tax in winter months and a higher sales tax in summer months.” Barr explained, “and the Assembly did, ultimately pass the ordinance with some amendments.”

One amendment, introduced by Deputy Mayor Greg Smith, lowers the winter sales tax rate further, from 2.5% to 2%. Including the existing temporary 1% tax, which is renewed by voters every five years, the total off-season rate would be 3%.

The Assembly also passed the final draft of the All-Hazard Mitigation Plan, following public testimony, much of it centered on landslide risk.

“At the end of the day, the Assembly did pass the resolution.” Said Barr “So the next steps for that plan is that it will go on to the state and then to FEMA for adoption, and we’re hopeful that that will happen in time for us to be able to apply for grant opportunities that are coming down the line.”

The plan is key to unlocking federal funding opportunities, including hazard mitigation grants.

Deliberations also continued on ranked-choice voting, with the Assembly choosing to send the matter back to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion.

“There’s three or so ranked choice voting options that they’ve been working their way through. They’re all pretty complex.” Said Barr “And again, my general sense of the body last night is they just wanted more time to think, discuss and hear public input on those three options before deciding what to do.”

Barr encouraged residents to stay engaged and informed by signing up for Juneau’s emergency alert and notification system, which also offers general civic updates.

“Beyond that, looking at our agendas when they come out, usually on Thursdays before the next week’s meetings.” He said, “People can find those on juneau.org.”

This article has been corrected to adjust the winter sales tax from from 2.5% to 2%, rather than 3.5% as previously written.

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