Open primaries and ranked choice voting are widely supported by Alaskans.
Here are some reasons why.
"Ranked choice voting allowed me to vote for the candidate of my choice for the first time in my life. And I've been voting since 1976. Usually, I've been obligated to vote for the least bad candidate that I thought had a chance of winning. Ranked choice voting offers us real democracy, more varied candidates, real choice"
- Scott Miller, Homer
"I support open primaries. No matter what party I am affiliated with, I should have the choice to support the candidate that is most closely aligned with my values. Sometimes that's a Democrat, sometimes it's a Republican, sometimes an independent. The voters have spoken on this issue and made their position clear."
- Debbie McKay, Kenai
"Open primaries and ranked-choice voting have benefited all citizens to have a more equitable voice and stake in their government"
- Lejla Berberovic, Anchorage
"Those who are fighting against RCV are bent on closing primaries, taking away people’s choices, and importing the divisive politics of the rest of the country. We’ve built bipartisan coalitions through RCV that are strengthening our education system, protecting our rights, and building our economy."
- Tom Begich
"Per capita, Alaska has more registered nonpartisan voters than any other state in the country. Our election system reflects this independence and the open primary gives all Alaskan voters the freedom to vote for any candidate they support."
- Penny Gage
"I like allowing every voter, regardless of party affiliation, to have an equal say in who advances from an open primary to the general election. Open primaries and ranked-choice voting motivate candidates to appeal to a broader base, rather than having candidates pitching extreme views to win a primary and then trying to come across as responsive to a broader audience in the general election. Who is opposed to an approach that rewards moderation and inclusiveness instead of narrow partisanship?"
- Diane Schenker, Anchorage
"In the 44 years I have lived in Alaska, I finally feel the voting procedure is really representing the voice of the majority vote! I voted for ranked-choice voting, and I would vote for it again."
- Carol Hazeltine, Anchorage
Open primaries and ranked choice voting are widely supported by Alaskans.
Here are some reasons why.
If we are looking for the best representative, we should not be shackled into choosing the lesser of two evils; we must look beyond fear and the gatekeepers of the political parties. We should grasp the opportunity that the open primary and ranked-choice voting provide for a better governance future.”
party powers. It also reduces the partisan polarization that has infected our country."
Alaskans believe that elections should be about voting for the best candidate, regardless of whether they are a Republican, Democrat, or independent and that’s exactly what our new election system with open primaries allows every Alaskan to do. Over 60% of Alaskans have chosen not to register with any political party. Our new voting system gives every Alaskan the freedom to vote for the any candidate they want. These reforms help unrig our political system and put power and freedom back in the hands of the voters.
"We support ranked choice voting because it gives everybody options... The candidate should be able to get the message out, and then let the people decide who they want to vote on. Taking away ranked choice voting means you don’t want people to have more options."Kevin McGee NAACP Anchorage President
"The process to elect a candidate shouldn’t be controlled by a single party, in a back room. It should be the citizens who elect the candidate."Linda Hutchings Business Owner, Soldotna Republican
"Alaska’s ranked choice voting system is good public policy. It gives a voice to the majority of Alaskans who are not at either end of the political extremes. It also allows for better candidates, qualified individuals who can take thoughtful, moderated positions that would not have allowed them to survive a primary vote in the last few years, in either political party."Bryan Schroder Former US Attorney for the District of Alaska
"The open primary and ranked choice voting system gets us back to basics. Candidates have to earn each vote, one vote at a time. The current election system is a big, dynamic positive change of being able to vote for candidates."Jennifer Johnston Former Alaska State Representative
"Ranked choice will help restore confidence in our electoral system by creating a lane that allows politicians to become public servants — in service of all Alaskans."Joe NelsonServes as chairman of Sealaska and is a co-chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives.
"Our current open primary and ranked choice voting system allows for more freedom, more choice, more influence, and greater participation among Alaskans."Ana HoffmanCo-Chair, Alaska Federation of Natives; President/CEO, Bethel Native Corporation
"The open primary and RCV puts candidate ballot access squarely where it belongs: with Alaska voters. Any Republican can run. Any Democrat can run. More and most importantly, any Alaskan can run."Chris ByeFormer Libertarian US House candidate, US Army veteran, Fairbanks resident
"English is my second language. If someone like me understood the instructions, someone who speaks only in English should understand the system better than I do and did."Nelson Angapak Sr.US Army veteran; former Senior Vice President, Alaska Federation of Natives
"Open primaries and ranked choice voting allow for political leaders to engage in open, honest and public discussions on hard issues instead of just focusing on what will play well with the party bosses in the next election cycle."Randy HoffbeckEvangelical Pastor and former Revenue Commissioner
"I appreciate the option to rank or not rank certain candidates. I was able to control the process; no one else was selecting a candidate in a closed primary process that I wasn’t part of, then leaving me with the options they chose. I was able to cast my vote how I wanted."La quen náay Liz Medicine CrowFirst Alaskans President and CEO
Recent Media
What did Alaska's political landscape look like before we had open primaries and ranked choice voting?
Political parties with so much power that representatives feared to do the right thing for Alaskans if it meant crossing party lines.
In former Alaska Revenue Commissioner Randy Hoffbeck's own words:
"Before open primaries and ranked choice voting, the old electoral system provided little independence in the working of the Legislature. Legislators worked in fear, under the threat of being ousted in the political primaries if they didn’t toe the party line." ... See MoreSee Less
OPINION: Alaska’s old primary system stifled governance. We shouldn’t go back to it.
www.adn.com
Before open primaries, the parties themselves carried more weight in legislators’ decision-making ...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
A great read from an esteemed Alaska Veteran, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation, and former president of Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.
Check it out: ... See MoreSee Less
OPINION: Protect voting rights and liberty by voting no on Ballot Measure 2
www.adn.com
Alaska’s current election system gives each of us the freedom to choose any candidate in primary a...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
📢Today’s the deadline to register to vote!📢NOV. 5 GENERAL ELECTION REGISTRATION DEADLINE TODAY!
If you've moved recently or changed your name - you need to update your registration to vote! If you are turning 18 by November 5, you can register now! If your signature is on file via State ID or Driver's License, you can update your registration, or register to vote online today here:
voterregistration.alaska.gov/Registration/RegistrationDetails?haveValidAKDL=true
City Offices should be open today from 12-4 to fill out and accept a paper form. If you are not near a registrar, call 907-465-4611 or
Toll-Free 866-952-8683 for more information.
If you miss this deadline, you will not be able to vote in State races (but you can still register to vote in the Presidential Election on November 5. ) ... See MoreSee Less
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