Supporters of Alaska’s election system

Open primaries and ranked choice voting are widely supported by Alaskans.

Here are some reasons why.

"We like Open Primaries because it allows all registered voters to have a say about who will be the candidates in the general election. Even though there may be a larger number of candidates running in the open primary system, Open Primaries have the potential to eventually increase voter turnout in the primary elections if voters have several election cycles to adjust to the change. And they give all voters the right to participate in all levels of an election. Our support for Ranked Choice Voting is also based on its potential to strengthen democracy. We need officials who will work across the aisle to solve issues and problems facing the State of Alaska and its residents. Party should not come before country and RCV has the ability to moderate the tendency we see in today's governance at all levels that tends toward party power rather than country governance." – Judy Andree, Juneau "I like ranked choice voting. The current voting system saved time and money for the citizens of Alaska and the State of Alaska. I think those who claim they were confused were confused as to why they must rank themselves and other candidates after blasting them. I was in kindergarten when I was 14. 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 "I love that we now get to vote for a person rather than having to vote for a party. I love that we now get to vote for the candidate we actually want without fear of splitting the vote. The result is better representation, which is the entire point of government." – Carl Brodersen, Juneau "I voted for open primaries and RCV. I like ranked choice voting a lot. It elected good people from both sides of the political spectrum. It is our best way to return Alaska to a non-partisan place where we work together to get things done." – Bob Butera, Anchorage “Party-induced fear prevents many voters from researching other candidates. Prior to RCV, key party elites would determine who was on the primary ballot and which ballot you received. 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. We are no longer chained to the lesser of two evils — which is what terrifies the party bosses.
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.” – Chris Bye, former Libertarian US House candidate, US Army veteran, Fairbanks resident "RCV reduces partisanship, encourages more candidates to run, including independents, boosts voter turnout and takes power away from special interests and out-of-state influence." – Santa Claus, North Pole
 "Ranked choice voting has proven to be effective and valuable system for ensuring that elections accurately reflect the will of the voters. By allowing voters to rank their preferences for multiple candidates, RCV encourages candidates to appeal to a broader range of constituents and promotes civil and issue-focused campaigns. It eliminates the "spoiler effect" and reduces the need for strategic voting, thus empowering voters to choose their preferred candidates without fear of wasting their vote or compromising their values." – Scott Crass, Fairbanks
 "I've often felt disenfranchised at elections, forced to vote for "the lesser of two evils" rather than the candidate I truly preferred. Ranked Choice Voting gives better options and opens up the field to more candidates." – Ann Dixon, Homer "The voters approved rank-choice voting, and polls show overwhelming continued support for that system. Having been a non-partisan voter for most of my life, I have voted for Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, and I appreciate having the ability to rank candidates that a majority of Alaskans have selected to be on the ballot rather than the hyper-partisan candidates usually selected during closed party primaries. I support ranked-choice voting." – Catherine Ducasse, Anchorage
 "Ranked choice voting is an important structural remedy in this time of bitter partisan polarization. It leads to better representation and better governance." – David Frankl, Eagle River "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 enthusiastically support Open Primaries and Ranked Choice Voting. They provide opportunities for the best and most favored candidates to rise to the top. I especially like that my second-choice candidate has a chance of being elected if my first-choice fails to impress enough voters. RCV promotes consensus instead of polarity and gives me hope that we can work together in spite of our differences." – Mary Griswold, Homer "We want more choices, not less. We want more inclusion, not exclusion. We want more civility and respect in our election process, not mudslinging. We want Alaska's good to be your focus, not party preservation or reelection." – Eric Gucker, Ketchikan
 "Open primaries and ranked choice voting have taken the power away from backroom party politics, where unelected party leaders controlled the decisions of elected officials by controlling fundraising and endorsements. That is critical if we are going to move the State forward, because old school party politics doesn’t reward tough decisions; it only – Randy Hoffbeck, Evangelical Pastor and former Revenue Commissioner rewards conformity. We have already seen that getting a more diverse group of people onto the general election ballot and into office has freed our elected officials to work across party lines to find solutions rather than just defending extreme positions. 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." “Our current open primary and ranked choice voting system allows for more freedom, more choice, more influence, and greater participation among Alaskans. It facilitates broader discussion by the candidates, and that produces a more informed constituency—which means election outcomes are driven directly by the will of voters. The ability to have this type of engagement is restorative for the long-term intent of our democratic system. It decentralizes power and empowers voters.” – Ana Hoffman, Co-Chair, Alaska Federation of Natives; President/CEO, Bethel Native Corporation "Alaskans should be able to choose the person, not the party. Before Alaska closed primary elections, registered Republicans voted for Democrats, and registered Democrats voted for Republicans. What open primaries and ranked choice voting gives us is choice. 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 "Open primaries ensure that candidates who have broader appeal to a greater number of Alaskans make it on the general election ballot, and RCV in the general election gives us the freedom to vote our conscience rather than trying to make difficult calculations about who has the best chance of winning." – Ingrid Johnson, South Anchorage "A couple of years ago, a prominent Republican suggested to me that we generally vote against candidates, not for candidates. He cited a number of examples. 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 "Open primaries and ranked choice voting have given us the opportunity to elect people who care about our issues, even if they’re not Alaska Native. As a nonpartisan voter, I appreciate being able to vote for candidates regardless of party affiliation. 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 Crow, First Alaskans President and CEO "The largest party of registered voters in Alaska is the ‘non-party’ – the commonsense, no-nonsense group sandwiched between the two main parties. Common sense and good government can prevail with the help of RCV. Given the polarization in the country, Alaskans cannot afford to merely preserve the nonpartisan RCV model; we have an obligation to lead a movement. 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 Nelson, Chairman of Sealaska and a co-chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives "Ranked choice voting keeps the choices in the hands of the voters rather than the
party powers. It also reduces the partisan polarization that has infected our country." – Steve Poirot, Anchorage
 "[Open Primaries and RCV] presents a unique and wonderful opportunity to ensure we each have a voice in our elections. The open primary system ensured that a diverse set of candidates emerged, one that better matched Alaska demographics." – Ann Rappoport, Anchorage “I believe in good public policy. 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. I’m joining this organization to help maintain the ranked choice voting system in Alaska, where we are leading the way to better elections.” – Bryan Schroder, former US Attorney for the District of Alaska Alaska has one of the highest numbers of registered undeclared or independent voters in the country for a reason - we want to vote for candidates rather than parties or single-issue platforms. Our current electorate is much less polarized than it has been in recent years, and I think this will bring a certain amount of civility to our state government that appears to be lacking in other states. – Brock Tabor, Juneau "[Open primaries and RCV] let people vote for who they want, meaning we can vote for anyone on the ballot regardless of political party." – Cynthia Tripp Johnson, Dillingham
Add your name to the list!Click here to join the coalition of Alaskans who support our election system!
Add your name to the list!
Click here to join the coalition of Alaskans who support our election system!

Miriam Aarons
Unalakleet

Kelsey Aho
Fairbanks

Leia Alessandrini
Valdez

John Alessandrini
Valdez

Susan Allmeroth
Fairbanks

Mary Aparezuk
Kotlik/Juneau

Erin Atwood
Anchorage

Alan Austerman
Kodiak

Bill Bailey
Fairbanks

Trina Bailey
Fairbanks

Percy Ballot
Buckland

Kanaan Bausler
Juneau

Amy Becia
Anchorage

Seth Beckley
Juneau

Lindsay Beckstead
Anchorage

Evelyn Beeter
Chistochina

Monique Beetus
Hughes

Tom Begich
Anchorage

Lejla Berberovic
Anchorage

Karen Berger
Homer

Leah Berman Williams
Fairbanks

Edwin Bifelt
Huslia

Mary Bishop
Fairbanks

John Blaine
Anchorage

Barbara Wáahlaal Gidáak Blake
Juneau

Andria Bond
Salcha

Rob Borland
Fairbanks

Nathan Borson
Gustavus

Naomi Bowen
Anchorage

Aurora Bowers
Fairbanks

Randy Boyer
Anchorage

Andrew Brabson
Eagle River

James Brady
Anchorage

Chrystal Brand
Juneau

Preston Brattain
Girdwood

Rebecca Braun
Juneau

Lindsey Bray
Anchorage

Carl Brodersen
Juneau

Carroll Brookman
Anchorage

Ezekiel Brown
Copper River & Prince William Sound

Susan Burnstin
Anchorage

Bob Butera
Anchorage

Julie Cain Hill
Kodiak

Carol Cairnes
Ketchikan

Marian Call
Juneau

Matt Callahan
Juneau

Tessa Calvin
Sitka

Cyrus Carey
Fairbanks

Sally Carter
Anchorage

Richard Carter
Anchorage

Sheila Cary
Anchorage

Claire Chan
Anchorage

Beverly Churchill
Anchorage

Kim Clarkson
Anchorage

Santa Claus
North Pole

Michael Coffing
Homer

Suzanne Cohen
Juneau

Henry Cole
Fairbanks

Kimberly Collins
Chugiak

Janet Colon
Anchorage

Sabrena Combs
Palmer

Kathrine Coonjohn
Juneau

Megan Corazza
Prince William Sound

Linda Courtice
Anchorage

Scott Crass
Fairbanks

James Crimp
Juneau

James Criss
Juneau

Raven Cunningham
Cordova

Steve Cypra
Palmer

Marvin Davis
Ketchikan

Chief Herbie Demit
Tanacross

Mark Desinger
Anchorage

Barbara Donatelli
Anchorage

Craig Doser
Soldotna

Saul Doering
Anchorage

Barbara Donatelli
Palmer

Mark Drygas
Fairbanks

Crystal Duncan
Sitka

Irene Dundas
Ketchikan

Mayor Crystal Dushkin
Atka

Odette Edgar
Juneau

Bryce Edgmon
Dillingham

Scott Eickholt
Fairbanks

Tasha Elizarde
Juneau

John Elliot
Sitka

Deb Elsey
Anchorage

Charlie Ercolin
Wrangell

Christine Everett
North Pole

Colin Fay
Wasilla & Chugiak

Elizabeth Niiqsik Ferguson
Kotzebue

Ann Fernandez
Anchorage

Linda File
Fairbanks

Tyson Fick
Southeast Alaska

Bill Fikes
Wasilla

Linda File
Fairbanks

Sheldon Fisher
Anchorage

Gerald Fox
Girdwood

Constance Fredenberg
Palmer

Percy Frisby
Hydaburg & Juneau

Ephraim Froehlich
Juneau

Penny Gage
Sitka & Anchorage

Jonathan Galin
Anchorage

Bart Garber
Tyonek/Anchorage

Myrna Gardner
Juneau

Megan Garzel
Anchorage

Myrna Gardner
Juneau

Tom George
Fairbanks

Wesley Gifford
Anchorage

Consuelo Goldman
Homer

Brianna Gray
King Cove/Fairbanks

Carolyn Gray
Fairbanks

Don Gray
Fairbanks

Jason Grenn
Anchorage

Cuckoo Gupta
Anchorage

Helen Gustafson
Homer

Elyse Guttenberg
Fairbanks

Mako Haggerty
Homer

Carolyn Hall
Anchorage

Alyssa Handy
Fairbanks

Jan Carolyn Hardy
Anchorage

Andrew Halcro
Anchorage

Pat Hansen
Anchorage

James Hart
Haines

Jessica Hefner
Talkeetna

Nancy Hemenway
Juneau

Taylor Holshouser
Eagle River

Ryan Hook
Anchorage

Hayley Hoover
Copper River & Prince William Sound

Rachel Hoover
Cordova

Wayne Howell
Gustavus

Susan Hunter
Anchorage

Joy Huntington
Manley Hot Springs/Fairbanks

Rebecca Hutchinson
Soldotna

Bonnie Jack
Anchorage

Katherine Jernstrom
Anchorage

Virgil John
Tetlin

Grace Johnston
Anchorage

Sacha Jones
Anchorage

Wayne Jones
Palmer

Marc Johnson
Anchorage

Paul Johnson
Yakutat & Angoon

Ryan Johnson
Prince William Sound & Kodiak

Hayden Kaden
Gustavus

Patricia Kallander
Prince William Sound

Emily Kane
Juneau

Karl Kassel
Fairbanks

Alison Kelley
Anchorage

Ben Kellie
Soldotna & Anchorage

Shannon Kelly
Juneau

Jeff King
Fairbanks

Jonathan King
Anchorage

Nicole Kimball
Anchorage

Melissa Kookesh
Angoon

Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
Sitka

Benjamin Kriegmont
Juneau

Pat Lambert
Ester

Peter Law
Anchorage

Mel Leggett
Anchorage

Mary Leith
Delta Junction

Cindy LeLake
Anchorage

Heather Lende
Haines

Cassandra Leyba
Port Alsworth

John Lincoln
Kotzebue

Pamela Lloyd
Sterling

Dominic Lozaro
Fairbanks

Stacey Lucason
Anchorage/Ninilchik

Tim Lucason
Ninilchik

Howard Magoon
Girdwood

Mike Mahoney
Copper River & Prince William Sound

Jen Majors
Fairbanks

Antoinette Mallot
Yakutat/Juneau

James Manners
Anchorage

Robert Marcotte
Fairbanks

Charley Taalak Maasak­ Kovalsky
Nuiqsut

Frank Maxwell
Fairbanks

Matt Maxwell
Anchorage

Raymond May
Kodiak

Kevin McCabe
Big Lake

Bonnie McCartney
Anchorage

Mim McConnell
Sitka

James McDevitt
Soldotna

Wallace McDonald
Petersburg

Mary McDowell
Juneau

Lesil McGuire
Anchorage

Debbie McKay
Kenai

Peter McKay
Kenai

Randy Mcpherron
Eagle River

Rachael McPherson
Anchorage

Alexandria McLearen
Anchorage

Elizabeth La Quen Náay Medicine Crow
Keex' Kwaan & Anchorage

Belle Merritt
Palmer

Mike Mickelson
Copper River & Prince William Sound

Scott Miller
Homer

Ben Millstein
Kodiak

Bearley Mira
Fairbanks

Dave Monson
Fairbanks

Linda Morning
Kenai

Eric Muench
Ketchikan

Bobby Nikolaides
Fairbanks

Terry Nunn
Anchorage

Kiera O'Brien
Ketchikan

Mayor O'Hara
Bristol Bay Borough

Katie Oliver
Kodiak

Dan Ortiz
Ketchikan

Austin Otos
Ketchikan

Amy Ouzts
Anchorage

Bruce Palmer
Anchorage

Casey Pape
Prince William Sound & Gulf of Alaska

Mayor Mamie Pardue
Nuiqsut

Heather Parker
Juneau

Pam Parker
Soldotna & Anchorage

Evon Peter
Fairbanks

Alana Gah Kith Tin Peterson
Sitka

George Peterson
Ketchikan

Roberta Peterson
Ketchikan

Theresa Philbrick
Anchorage

Steven Poirot
Anchorage

Alex Prichard
Fairbanks

Charlie Procknow
Anchorage

Pat Race
Juneau

Ann Rappoport
Anchorage

Maryann Ray
Douglas

Greg Razo
Anchorage

Derek Reed
Anchorage

Erich Reed
Anchorage

Barbara Reilly
Anchorage

Anna Remillard
Eagle River

Sean Rice
Fairbanks

Sunny Rice

David Rich
Fairbanks

Kathe Rich
Fairbanks

Brenda Riley
Fairbanks

Cheryl Dehart Robb
Manley Hot Springs

Henry Robinson
Sitka

Dune Rothman
Juneau

Sally Rue
Juneau

David Russell-Jensen
Juneau

Robin Samuelson
Dillingham

Philip Schempf
Juneau

Arthur Shultz
Bristol Bay

Kristen Shank Langhoff
Wasilla

Dorothy Shockley
Manley Hot Springs/Fairbanks

Mae Silook
Anchorage

Teisha Simmons
Fairbanks

Geoffrey Smith
Kodiak

Greg Smith
Juneau

Judy Rae Smith
Fairbanks

Georgina Solomon
Ft. Yukon

John Sonin
Douglas

Joshua Sopko
Anchorage

Chuck Spinelli
Anchorage

Martin Stepetin Sr.
St. Paul/Juneau

Elijah Stoll
Soldotna

David Story
Cooper Landing

Joseph Strang
Anchorage

Louise Stutes
Kodiak

Mike Sydoriak
Bella Vista

Anthony Taiber
Petersburg

Jonathon Taylor
Anchorage

Robert Teachworth
Anchorage

Gabe Tegoseak
Barrow

Everett Leroy Thompson
Naknek

John Trampush
Big Lake

Eric Troyer
Fairbanks

Daniel Volland
Anchorage

Paul Waggoner
Anchorage

Kimberly Waller
Fairbanks & Anchorage

Mike Walleri
Fairbanks

Art Warbelow
Fairbanks

Deb Ward
Anchorage

Kelly Ward
Fairbanks

Casie Warner
Seward

Michelle Weekly
Kodiak

Mary Weiss
Anchorage

Robert Welton
Juneau

Sheri Whitethorn
Anchorage

Siikauraq Martha Whiting
Kotzebue

Betty Whittenberg
Sterling

April Wilson
Anchorage

Marilynn Woods
Manley Hot Springs/Anchorage

Adam Wool
Fairbanks

Kate Wool
Fairbanks

Lisa Worl
Juneau

Debra Wozniak
Anchorage

Ann Yadon
Homer

Dalecia Young
Anchorage

Georgiann Young
Anchorage

Meg Zaletel
Anchorage

Joel Zebill
Soldotna

Richard Zeigler
Anchorage

Georgianna Zimmerle
Ketchikan

Beate Zinck
Anchorage

Eric Zinck
Anchorage

David Bates
Fairbanks

Add your name to the list!Click here to join the coalition of Alaskans who support our election system!
Add your name to the list!
Click here to join the coalition of Alaskans who support our election system!