The Alaska Supreme Court has upheld a measure on the November ballot aimed at repealing the state’s new open primary and ranked choice general election system. This decision comes after the court heard arguments regarding the initiative, which seeks to roll back provisions of a 2020 voter initiative that introduced the new system. Under the open primary system, voters choose one candidate per race, with the top four advancing to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Supporters of ranked choice voting believe it offers more choice and rewards candidates who can appeal to a broader electorate, while opponents argue that it is confusing and forces voters to rank candidates they may not support.
The Division of Elections identified errors in over 60 petition booklets, many of which involved a notary commission that had expired. The division began notifying sponsors of the repeal measure about these errors shortly after the petition was turned in, giving them the opportunity to correct the mistakes. Ultimately, the sponsors were able to fix 62 booklets before the signature count was completed in March. Both sides agree that if these corrected booklets were discarded, the measure would not have enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. The plaintiffs in the case argued that the division acted arbitrarily in its handling of the booklets, while the state’s attorney defended the division’s actions as diligent and within the 60-day signature review window.
Despite concerns raised about the handling of the petition booklets, the Supreme Court decided to affirm the Superior Court’s ruling, allowing the measure to remain on the November ballot. The court’s quick decision was welcomed by the Department of Law, as it ensures that the division can meet the deadlines for printing the ballots. The repeal measure sponsors expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling, with one former state attorney general representing them stating that the court saw through the opposition’s arguments. This decision means that Alaska voters will have the opportunity to decide whether to keep or repeal the new open primary and ranked choice general election system that was implemented in 2020.
The use of the open primary system and ranked choice voting in Alaska has sparked debate among voters and lawmakers. Supporters argue that the new system provides more options for voters and encourages candidates to appeal to a wider range of constituents. However, opponents believe that the system is confusing and could lead to unintended consequences, such as voters ranking candidates they do not actually support. The court’s decision to uphold the ballot measure allows Alaskans to have a say in the future of their election process, determining whether to maintain the current system or revert to the previous primary and general election setup.
The division’s handling of the petition booklets raised concerns about fairness and transparency in the election process. Both sides in the legal case presented arguments about the division’s actions, with one side claiming arbitrariness and the other side defending the division’s diligence. Despite the discrepancies in the handling of the booklets, the court ultimately decided to uphold the measure’s placement on the ballot, citing the need to respect the deadlines for ballot printing. This decision highlights the importance of following procedures and deadlines in the initiative process, as well as the role of the courts in ensuring the integrity of the electoral system.
