Alaska Supreme Court upholds ranked choice voting and top-four primary

Summary

Bethel citizens vote at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center in Bethel, Alaska on Nov. 3, 2020.
(Katie Basile/KYUK)The Alaska Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld as valid a voter-approved election system that would end party primaries in the state and institute ranked choice voting in general elections.
The new system, narrowly approved by voters in 2020, is unique among states and set to be used for this year’s elections.
Under the open primary, the top four vote-getters in a race, regardless of party affiliation, would advance to the general election, where ranked choice voting would be used.
He said the decision removes any lingering questions about whether the new system will be used this year.