How Alaska's ranked choice voting system works
Voters in Alaska are going to the polls to cast their ballots in key races, and the state's unique ranked choice voting system is back in the spotlight.
Key points
- Alaska voters are casting ballots in a Senate race using ranked choice voting, first implemented in 2022.
- Sen. Dan S. Sullivan faces Democrat Mary Peltola and Daniel J. Sullivan, a candidate with a nearly identical name.
- A federal judge dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit seeking to block certification if the senator loses; the department will appeal.
Alaska voters are going to the polls Tuesday in key races, including a Senate election that has drawn widespread attention, CBS News reports. The race features Republican incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, Democrat Mary Peltola and Daniel J. Sullivan, a candidate with nearly the same name as the sitting senator.
Alaska uses a top-four nonpartisan primary and ranked choice voting in the general election, a system first implemented in 2022. If no candidate wins more than 50% of first-choice votes, the lowest finisher is eliminated and their supporters' votes go to their next choices until someone wins a majority.
Two Dan Sullivans on the ballot
Daniel J. Sullivan, a former teacher, announced his challenge to the senator in June, prompting an unsuccessful push to remove him from the ballot. The state supreme court allowed him to remain and directed the Division of Elections to determine how he should be listed. A sample ballot shows the senator as "Sullivan, Dan S. (Registered Republican) Incumbent," while Daniel J. Sullivan has no identifiers beyond his name.
In the August primary, Peltola took 49.5%, the senator 41.4% and Daniel J. Sullivan 2.5%. The Justice Department sued last month to block certification of the Senate results if the senator loses to Peltola, but a federal judge dismissed the suit on Sunday, finding the federal government had no legal right to sue. The department said it will appeal.
MAYBE HE HAS BEEN 'KIDNAPPED' BY THE CORRUPT DUMOCRAT LAWYERS???
— President Trump
Counting could take weeks
Alaska counts mail ballots received 10 days after Election Day, or 15 days in some cases, and ranked choice tabulation rounds begin after the last ballot count 15 days after the election. Officials are targeting Nov. 25 to certify results. In 2022, Peltola won a special House election 15 days after Election Day and later won a full term on the second round with 55% after an initial 48.8%.
