The Alaska Supreme Court has upheld a voter-approved initiative that would institute ranked-choice voting in general elections. A sponsor of the measure says he expects Alaska to be a test case for similar efforts being considered in other states.
A brief order affirmed a lower court ruling from last year. A fuller opinion explaining the Supreme Court’s decision was expected later., narrowly approved by voters in 2020, is unique among states and set to be used for this year’s elections. It is viewed by supporters as a way to encourage civility and cooperation among elected officials.
Jacobus, who argued the case before the Supreme Court, said Wednesday he was disappointed with the outcome. Aaron Sadler, a spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Law, said the court’s “quick decision provides clarity so that Alaska candidates and voters now know the method for conducting elections moving forward. We look forward to reviewing the Court’s full opinion once it’s issued.”
Kendall, who helped write the initiative, told justices Tuesday that political parties “have no right to be gatekeepers to the ballot.” He said the system would reward candidates who are willing to work with others, no matter their party affiliation, and that voters will be “empowered in a different way.”
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