New Unite America report shows the benefits of RCV in Alaska
Last week, Unite America released a new report on “Alaska’s Election Model.” It thoroughly examines Alaska’s historic use of ranked choice voting (RCV) in the 2022 elections, showing that RCV facilitates positive campaigning and better representation.
The report finds that Alaska’s new voting method – which includes all-party primaries and RCV general elections – increased the quality of elections. For example, in exit polls, 52% of voters said their vote “mattered more” than in previous years (p. 25). With RCV, voters can confidently cast their ballot for their favorite candidate. No matter how a voter’s first-choice candidate performs, their vote still matters. If a voter’s first choice isn’t viable, the voter can help a backup choice win.
Because candidates benefit from being a backup choice of their opponents’ supporters, they have reason to stay friendly on the campaign trail. The report points to several examples of positive campaigning; in Alaska’s U.S. House race, Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Mary Peltola “spoke freely and publicly about the close and productive working relationship they had when they were both serving in Alaska’s capital” (p. 31). In the race for Alaska’s 15th House District, neither of the frontrunners went negative while campaigning: “Both focused on their personal qualifications and the policy positions of their opponent . . . such a campaign approach is rare under other election systems” (p. 31).
The report also finds that RCV provides better representation than single-choice voting. With RCV, diverse, startup candidates no longer have to “wait their turn.” These candidates can run without fear of “wasting votes” or “spoiling the race” for another candidate. The report shows that under the new system, more women ran for statewide offices than in all five previous elections combined (see p. 27). In addition, the 2022 election “produced the most racially diverse set of state legislators” in at least 15 years, with 23% of the legislature identifying as people of color (p. 27). Lastly, 55% of Alaska Natives said they had better candidates to choose from than in previous years.
Unite America’s report is a comprehensive, compelling look at research on Alaska’s new voting method. Thank you to Unite America for highlighting RCV’s success in practice!
