By SUZANNE DOWNING
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom has formally approved the filing of a citizen initiative that would repeal Alaska’s ranked-choice voting and open primary system, clearing the way for the question to appear on the November 2026 general election ballot.
In a letter sent to initiative sponsors this week, Dahlstrom wrote that she had reviewed the petition and determined it was properly filed under Alaska law. The Division of Elections verified 42,837 voter signatures, well above the 34,098 signatures required based on turnout in the 2024 general election.
According to the Division’s verification, the petition met the constitutional requirement of signatures from qualified voters in all 40 Alaska House districts, with at least 10 percent of voters statewide and at least seven percent in a minimum of 30 House districts.
“With the assistance of the attorney general,” Dahlstrom wrote, she also prepared the official ballot title and proposition language required by statute.
The initiative, titled “An Act Restoring Political Party Primaries, Single-Choice General Elections, and Campaign Finance Rules,” would dismantle the election system approved by voters in 2020 and return Alaska to partisan primaries and traditional, single-choice general elections.
Under the proposed law, voters would again select a party ballot in primary elections, vote for one candidate per race, and advance the highest vote-getter as the party’s nominee. In general elections, the candidate receiving the most votes would win outright, eliminating ranked-choice tabulation.
The initiative would also reinstate elements of Alaska’s prior election framework, including party petitions, special runoff elections, and appointment procedures that were altered when ranked-choice voting and open primaries were adopted.
In addition to election mechanics, the measure would roll back several campaign finance provisions enacted under the current system. According to the ballot summary, the initiative would remove limits on donations to joint gubernatorial campaigns, repeal certain disclosure requirements, including rules governing digital advertising and the disclosure of donation sources, and eliminate or modify some fines and definitions related to campaign expenditures.
The ballot question asks voters directly whether the initiative should become law.
The measure is scheduled to appear on the Nov. 3, 2026, general election ballot. State law requires that the Legislature convene and adjourn and that at least 120 days pass after adjournment before the initiative can be placed before voters. Dahlstrom noted that, barring an early adjournment on or before April 20, the 2026 general election is the first eligible statewide ballot.
If a majority of voters approve the measure, Dahlstrom would certify the results and the law would take effect 90 days after certification.
The lieutenant governor also cautioned that the petition could be rendered void if the Legislature enacts a law that is “substantially the same” as the proposed initiative before the election, with concurrence from the attorney general, as allowed under state statute.
The letter was addressed to initiative sponsors Ken McCarty of Eagle River, Judy Eledge of Anchorage, and Bernadette Wilson of Anchorage, who led the signature-gathering effort to repeal ranked-choice voting in Alaska.
6 thoughts on “Lt. Gov. Dahlstrom clears ranked-choice voting repeal for 2026 ballot”
There is a good chance that RCV again will narrowly pass like it did in 2024. But like the annoying widow in kings kept on pressing justice from the king and under her nagging the king relented and gave into her.
That’s what the RCV petitioners and voters who want to overturn RCV has to do. Through the next five years Just keep on , telling your neighbors, co workers, family why it’s bad, and keep voting for overturn it. Eventually it finally will get overturn While the state of Alaska had millions of dark money flushed into its economy for years. That’s one manipulative way to keep money from the states flowing up here into hotels, restaurants office supplies, media, transportation, grocers wherever the groups spend it. The dark money groups sending money up here where eventually get tired of wasting millions of dollars campaigning to lose interest.
Tina, the RCV repeal lost by 664 votes. Many people thought they voted for the repeal only to discover that “yes” meant “no” and vs due to the awkward wording of the question. I believe this time the wording will be straight forward.
Furthermore what exactly is the “annoying widow”?? How does the dark money support our economy exactly? Do you have numbers to back that up? It seems more that the incestuous cabal of the ship creek group and unions support a very limited segment of the state.
Has Kendall filedd his frivolous nuisance lawsuit yet?? He will, surely, and some bought and paid for judge will allow it to go forward
Naaah, it won’t be Lawfare this time. It’ll be millions of dollars flowing through the airwaves, TV stations and interwebs. Propaganda 2026, here we come.
Check the facts regarding the money or promotion efforts for advertising to retain RCV verses the amount the group to repeal RCV actually had to spend on the REPEAL RCV ballot issue. As I recall it was $5,000.000to under $300,000. Locally supported to repeal with very small outside money. From the very beginning Alaska was used as a test case to push RCV. We were referred to a “cheat date”. The advertising must be strong and clear VOTE YES TO REPEAL RCV.
And Pocarro Communications will again make a fortune pushing RCV