Alaskans will decide fate of ranked choice voting system after chaotic end to state’s primary

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Even after the last votes were counted from Alaska’s primary election, the final slate of candidates was far from settled. Late withdrawals shook up the races for governor, U.S. House, leaving many voters upset with candidates who dropped out after winning a spot in November’s general election or cursing others who stayed in. Some were quick to blame the upheaval on Alaska’s unique elections system that combines open primaries, where the top four vote-getters advance, with general elections run under a ranked choice system. The August primary revealed some of the headaches related to a major change in how Alaska voters select their candidates and was the latest example of how the real-world experience of state voting changes don’t always line up neatly with expectations.

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