JUNEAU (KINY) – Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom has approved a ballot initiative application seeking to repeal Alaska’s existing top-four primary and ranked-choice voting general election systems.
According to a press release from Dahlstrom’s office, the proposed initiative aims to reinstate partisan political primaries, modify related appointment procedures, reestablish special runoff elections, and amend independent expenditure group requirements.
“Our democratic process is strengthened when Alaskans engage directly in shaping our electoral system,” Dahlstrom said. “In approving this ballot initiative application, we have confirmed that the initiative sponsors have met the necessary requirements under Alaska law.”
According to Dahlstrom, her approval allows the initiative’s sponsors to begin the process of gathering the necessary signatures to place the measure on a future ballot. The initiative will be placed on the ballot for Alaska voter consideration if the required number of signatures is obtained.
The current nonpartisan top-four primary and ranked-choice voting systems were implemented following the passage of Ballot Measure 2 in 2020.
In the November 2024 election, a similar measure to repeal the system was narrowly defeated, with the final recount confirming a margin of 743 votes against the repeal.
