This year’s midterm elections have put a spotlight on Alaska’s “top-four” election system – which includes an open, all-candidate primary and a ranked-choice voting (RCV) general election.
Alaskans voted to adopt this system in 2020 and again to keep it in 2024. It was on the ballot again this November; voters in my home state will likely vote for reform for the third time in six years.
That’s because RCV and open primaries have delivered more choice, more voter power, and better government for Alaskans.
How do Alaska’s elections work?
All candidates compete on the same ballot in the primary, regardless of party. Voters each pick one candidate, and the top four vote-getters advance to the RCV general election.
In the general election, voters can rank candidates in order of preference: first, second, third, and so on. If a candidate receives a majority of voters’ first choices, that candidate wins. If not, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and voters who ranked that candidate “number 1” will have their vote count for their next choice. This repeats until two candidates remain, and the candidate with a majority of votes wins.
How has the reform affected Alaska?
With open primaries and RCV, Alaskans get more choices and can vote honestly for the candidates they like most, without fear of “spoiler” candidates. Candidates listen to more voters and build broad coalitions to win majority support. Elections are more competitive. 84% of Alaska voters say that RCV is simple. RCV is party-neutral, and fiercely independent Alaska voters have elected Democrats, Republicans, and independents since it was first used in 2022.
Since Alaska implemented RCV, the state legislature has been led by a cross-partisan coalition including Republicans, Democrats, and independents. This coalition has put Alaskans’ needs over partisan politics to advance issues that matter to voters. In 2025, the coalition passed the largest school funding increase in state history.
How long will results take?
We might need 15 days to call a close race. But it’s not because of RCV, which takes just minutes to tally.
Alaska has long allowed absentee ballots to arrive up to 15 days after Election Day because of its size and geography. Over 80% of the state is not connected by road. In close Senate races in 2008 and 2010, officials declared the winner at the end of the 15-day period. Alaska did not use RCV until 2022.
Additionally, Alaska’s Division of Elections released a preliminary “cast vote record” on Election Night this year, which can be used to create unofficial RCV tallies. Alaska already has preliminary RCV results.
What about the two Dan Sullivans?
Alaska’s Senate race has two candidates with similar names: incumbent Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan and nonpartisan candidate Daniel J. Sullivan. The New York Times reported that Democrats recruited the second Sullivan to play “spoiler” and siphon votes away from Senator Sullivan.
Ranked choice voting had nothing to do with Daniel J. Sullivan getting on the ballot – and it actually makes the tactic less effective. RCV can neutralize the “spoiler” effect by giving voters backup choices. In Alaska, any small number of voters uncertain about the “Dan Sullivans” could rank both candidates on their ballot, and their vote will end up counting for the more competitive candidate, Senator Sullivan.
RCV gives all Alaska voters a more meaningful vote. They do not have to vote for the lesser of two evils, or fear “throwing their vote away” if they do not. In the Senate race, 4,481 voters ranked Daniel J. Sullivan or long-shot Gerald Heikes first – but also weighed in between Senator Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola, using their backup choices.
Compare this to races without ranked-choice voting, like Tuesday’s Ohio Senate race – where 222,781 voters chose the Libertarian or independent. These voters had no backup choice. They did not get to weigh in between the candidates who actually had a chance to win.
What’s next?
Alaska will release additional updates through its 15-day window, and we’ll get official results on Wednesday, November 18.
We’ll also get a final answer on whether voters want to keep Alaska’s election system – though preliminary results indicate it is here to stay. That’s because Alaska’s election system lets Alaskans vote their values, and support the candidates they believe will best represent them in office. It also empowers elected leaders to govern — by putting the needs of their voters before partisan interests.
Meredith Sumpter is President and CEO of FairVote, a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections.
