Alaska Voters Recommit to Open Primaries, Reject Repeal Effort

In a major victory for elections that put voters first, Alaska voters have rejected Measure 2, which sought to repeal Alaska's first-in-the-nation top-four elections. With all the votes counted in a final unofficial tally, “NO” currently leads “YES” 50.1% to 49.9%. Because the result is within 0.5%, a recount is possible.

Nick Troiano, Executive Director of Unite America, issued the following statement celebrating the victory:

“Alaskans of all political stripes –– Democrats, Republicans, and independents –– recommitted to their innovative top-four election system, which is delivering better choices on the ballot and leaders that represent a true majority of voters. Importantly, every Alaska voter will retain the freedom to vote for any candidate, regardless of party, in every taxpayer-funded election.

“The Last Frontier continues to be a shining example for the entire country of what a fairer and more representative election system can look like.”

Background information

In 2020, Alaska voters approved Measure 2, which replaced the state’s party primary system with a top-four open, all-candidate primary; implemented ranked choice voting in the general election; and imposed disclosure requirements on dark money. Measure 2 passed by a little over one percentage point — fewer than 4,000 votes.

This year, with the backing of high-profile politicians including former Gov. Sarah Palin, Measure 2 was back on the ballot. But this time, it was to repeal the open primary and ranked choice voting pieces of the reform. Notably, Palin lost twice under the top-four election system in 2022, unable to win the support of a majority of Alaska voters.

Impact of Alaska’s top-four elections

According to a Unite America Institute report analyzing the 2022 elections, Alaska’s top-four elections resulted in more voters casting meaningful ballots, increased competition, and produced elected leaders who better represented the state’s electorate:

• More competition: In 2022, 12% of Alaska’s state legislative general elections had only one candidate — the smallest share since 2012. In 2020 under a party primary system, 24% of races had only one candidate.
• More “meaningful” votes: In 2022, there was a 58% increase in the number of Alaskans casting a meaningful vote compared to 2020 (pre-reform). Alaska led the country in meaningful vote percentage in 2022, while most states regressed from 2018-22.
• Voters had the freedom to express their true preferences: In 2022, more than half of Alaska voters split their tickets and voted for candidates of multiple parties, signaling that Alaska voters — particularly the 64% non-major party voters — value the opportunity to vote for the candidate, not the party.
• More representative candidates and more functional governance. Following the 2024 general election, lawmakers announced that bipartisan majorities would govern the state house and state senate — just like they did following the 2022 elections. 

Additional resources:

• Alaska's Election Model: How the top-four nonpartisan primary system improves participation, competition, and representation
• The U.S. House of Representatives has a governing problem. Alaska has some answers.
• Takeaways from Alaska's open primary: 357K independents had the right to vote; more general election competition

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