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Rob Richie

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    Voting

    Ranked-choice voting was a winner on Election Day

    Rob Richie
    December 09, 2022
    Alaska ranked-choice voting

    Republican Mike Dunleavy won the gubernatorial race in Alaska, where the people used ranked-choice voting to elect officeholders across the political spectrum.

    Spencer Platt/Getty Images

    Rob Richie is president and CEO of FairVote.

    Amidst the postmortems about which party “won” the 2022 midterms, there’s an important story that may have a more enduring impact: the record number of Americans turning to ranked-choice voting for better choices, better campaigns and better representation.

    On Election Day, a record eight states, counties and cities voted in favor of RCV, a better method of election that enables voters to rank candidates in order of their choice: first, second, third and so on. RCV measures won in Nevada (where it must earn a second vote of approval in 2024) and cities like Seattle and Portland, Ore.

    A reform used in only 10 cities in 2016 has grown to more than 60 cities, counties and states – including Alaska for all its federal and state general elections, Maine for all its federal elections, and the mayors and city councils of the largest cities in seven states.

    Functionally, RCV makes common sense. In races with more than two candidates – as in elections this year in Maine’s 2nd congressional district and in Alaska’s statewide elections for governor, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House – an “instant runoff” upholds majority rule no matter how divided the vote. It’s far more efficient than a contentious, expensive, lower-turnout runoff, as we saw in Georgia’s Senate race.

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    Voting

    While Alaska votes, ranked-choice voting is gaining steam

    Rob Richie
    August 24, 2022
    Sarah Palin

    Sarah Palin was one of two Republicans to advance in Alaska's special election for a vacant U.S. House seat.

    Brandon Bell/Getty Images

    Rob Richie is president and CEO of FairVote.

    This month was a big one for Alaska and its new election system, as the state used ranked-choice voting on Aug. 16 for the first time since a 2020 referendum revamped its elections. In Alaska’s first RCV election, to fill a U.S. House vacancy, Democrat Mary Peltola led the field in first choices, with Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich splitting the remaining 60 percent of votes cast.

    RCV is now improving elections in 55 cities, states and counties. Instead of picking just one candidate, you get to rank as many candidates as you want in order of your choice: first, second, third and so on. If your first-choice candidate is in last place, your vote counts for your highest-ranked candidate who can win. RCV makes races with more than two candidates better for voters and candidates alike, by removing the fear that like-minded candidates will “split the vote.”

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