Alaska's US Rep. Nick Begich co-sponsors bill to limit ranked choice voting
Apr. 30—Republican U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III of Alaska has co-sponsored legislation to prohibit the use of ranked choice voting in federal elections.
One of the main authors of the measure that led to ranked choice voting and open primaries in Alaska criticized the bill, saying it amounts to federal overreach.
Begich said in a Monday statement that ranked choice voting has added uncertainty and confusion to the federal election process.
" 'One person, one vote' is a proven, tried and true method that is easy to understand, easy to audit, and quick to report," Begich said. "Experiments with our national election systems risk disenfranchisement of voters and lead to outcomes that do not represent the true will of the American people."
Alaska voters approved ranked choice voting and open primaries by a small margin through a ballot measure in 2020. The voting method has been used in Alaska in state and federal elections since 2022.
Begich ran for Congress three times under ranked choice voting, starting with the 2022 special election, and won last year after losing his first two attempts.
Supporters of ranked choice voting and open primaries have said the election system has led to more consensus candidates elected and more power for Alaska voters.
Opponents of ranked choice voting have said the election system confuses voters.
In February, an initiative to repeal ranked choice voting in Alaska got the green light for signature-gathering from Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom. If successful, it would appear on the ballot in 2026.
A similar repeal effort narrowly failed to pass in 2024.
Anchorage attorney Scott Kendall, one of the main authors of the 2020 ballot measure that led to ranked choice voting and open primaries in Alaska, said the proposed legislation amounts to enormous federal overreach.
"By and large, the federal government allows states to run elections themselves," he said. "He would have the federal government take that back from states."
Kendall called Begich's statement irresponsible. Courts have found that ranked choice voting does not violate one-person, one-vote, he said.
If the legislation were to pass, it would be confusing to have separate voting methods in Alaska for candidates for state and federal offices, he said.
"The federal government should keep its nose out of our elections," he said. "I'm frankly shocked he would feel otherwise."
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