The League of Women Voters of the Kenai Peninsula urges you to vote NO on Ballot measure 2. Why? A yes vote would return Alaska to party controlled closed primaries and general elections in which the candidate need not win an outright majority to be elected. The cost to the state to return to the old way would be approximately $2.6 million.

In 2020, Alaska voters approved a ballot measure which was a citizen-initiated ballot measure that replaced partisan primaries with open top four primaries and established ranked choice voting for general elections, including the presidential election. Under open primaries, candidates run in a single primary election, regardless of a candidate’s party affiliation.

Advantages of open primaries

With open primaries, citizens can vote for the candidates of their choice regardless of political party. As Chris Bye wrote, “[An] open primary ensures that independent-minded Alaskans have a voice as well. Remember, We the People — not they the parties — get to decide who WE want to represent us.” Roughly 60% of Alaska Voters are not registered as Republican or Democrat.

Advantages of ranked choice voting

Under the old system, in 16 previous races for statewide office, the winners received less than 50% of the votes, one as low as 38%. With ranked choice voting, the winning candidate must have over 50% of the vote.

RCV encourages civil campaigning because winning candidates need to appeal to all Alaskans, not just those in their own party. This reduces demonizing an opponent and creating distrust between neighbors and family who have different opinions.

The shift to open primaries and ranked choice voting was a change, but Alaskans are tough, resilient and smart, and can see the advantages of RCV and open primaries. They made it through the last midterm election using our new voting system with flying colors!

More and more states are looking at ranked choice voting and open primaries as a step forward. Let’s continue to take the lead by voting NO on 2.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that neither endorses nor opposes candidates or political parties but does take positions on select issues and policies that affect voters.