Alaska voters in House District 30 and across the state face a confusing ballot under the current ranked‑choice voting system. Rep. Kevin McCabe (R‑Big Lake) points out that the official voting instructions give only seven basic rules and omit critical warnings about how a ballot can become inactive once a voter’s top choice is eliminated.
Missing Guidance on Exhausted Ballots
The Division of Elections website lists four common mistakes—skipping a ranking, giving two candidates the same number, ranking the same candidate twice, and skipping two rows in a row. While the site tells voters they can ask for a new ballot if they make a mistake, it fails to explain that a ballot can “die” after the first round if the voter only marks one candidate.
When a voter selects only a single candidate, that vote is counted in the first round but is discarded in subsequent rounds if the chosen candidate is eliminated. The Division’s page does not use the terms “exhausted” or “inactive,” leaving voters unaware that their voice may disappear later in the tabulation process.
Why Ranking All Candidates Matters
McCabe stresses that ranking every candidate is an insurance policy. By filling in all available ovals—first choice, second choice, third choice, and so on—voters stay in the game even after their favorite candidate is knocked out. This practice was the original rationale for adopting ranked‑choice voting, yet the state’s instructions provide no encouragement to do so.
Other states with ranked‑choice voting include explicit warnings about over‑votes and stray marks. Alaska’s approach, by contrast, leaves the crucial decision of how far down the list to rank to the voter’s own judgment, without any official reminder that stopping early can effectively silence their vote.
Measure 2 Offers a Simple Fix
Ballot Measure 2 proposes to amend the voting instructions to include clear warnings about exhausted ballots and to require that voters rank all candidates if they wish to retain influence throughout the counting process. The measure would also standardize over‑vote and stray‑mark warnings, aligning Alaska’s ballot with practices used elsewhere in the country.
McCabe argues that Measure 2 does not change the ballot itself but adds the missing guidance that voters need. By voting YES on Measure 2, Alaskans can ensure that every voter understands how to keep their ballot active from round one through the final tally.
Local Impact in District 30
In District 30, the ballot lists two Republicans and one Democrat for the House, mirroring similar patterns in Senate District O and the governor’s race. Voters who only mark a single Republican risk seeing their vote disappear if that candidate is eliminated early. Ranking all three Republicans guarantees that their preferences continue to count, regardless of which candidate survives each round.
The same logic applies to the governor’s race, where three Republicans and one Democrat appear on the ballot. A voter who ranks only the top‑ticket Republican may lose influence if that candidate falls short, while a full ranking preserves a voice for the remaining Republican choices.
Call to Action
McCabe urges Alaskans to read the ballot instructions carefully, rank every candidate, and vote YES on Measure 2. By doing so, voters protect their own voice and strengthen the integrity of Alaska’s elections.
For more information on how to complete a ranked‑choice ballot correctly and the details of Measure 2, visit the Division of Elections website or contact your local election office.
Original reporting: Must Read Alaska (Anchorage) — read the source article.
