Federal civil rights panel will take Alaska testimony on whether ranked choice voting blocks any voters

A federal civil rights body is examining whether Alaska's ranked choice voting system makes it harder for some Alaskans to vote, and it will hear from the public starting Wednesday, Aug. 26.

The Alaska Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has scheduled four virtual briefings, the latest step in an examination the committee opened in 2024. Its project description says the committee "seeks to examine whether Alaska's ranked choice voting laws, policies, and practices infringe upon or dilute the voting rights of Alaskans, including any concerns related to discrimination based on race, color, age, disability, or other federally protected category."

Nothing the committee decides will change Alaska election law. The Commission describes itself as an independent, bipartisan, fact-finding agency created by the Civil Rights Act of 1957, whose studies and reports carry findings and recommendations to inform and advise policymakers. State advisory committees are made up of volunteer members and report to the Commission, which in turn advises Congress and the President. Enforcement rests with others.

Voters narrowly approved the system in 2020 through Ballot Measure 2, with 50.55 percent of the vote. It paired a nonpartisan top-four primary with ranked choice general elections and was first used in the Aug. 16, 2022 special general election. A 2024 attempt to repeal it failed 49.9 percent to 50.1 percent, and Alaskans will vote again in November on a new initiative to repeal it.

Alaskans have argued the question both ways at state hearings this summer. Repeal supporters say the system is complicated and that ballots set aside as exhausted go uncounted; opponents say turnout has been higher under it. Neither claim has been independently verified here.

Panel I meets Aug. 26 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Alaska Time, with three more panels running through Oct. 1. Each briefing includes an open comment period for the public.

Written comments must be received within 30 days after each briefing and may be emailed to Kayla Fajota, the designated federal officer, at [email protected]. Accommodation requests are due at least 10 business days before a briefing.