Federal civil rights panel takes testimony on Alaska's ranked-choice voting before repeal vote

The Alaska Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will take public testimony by Zoom on Wednesday, Oct. 21, and Tuesday, Oct. 27, as it studies Alaska's ranked-choice voting system.

The committee's current project asks whether ranked-choice voting laws and practices infringe on or dilute Alaskans' voting rights, including discrimination based on race, color, age, disability or another federally protected category. It plans to assess ballot access, voter understanding and equal participation, and to make recommendations. The federal notice for the two sessions does not name a topic.

The committee held four virtual briefings with invited testimony on Aug. 26, Aug. 28, Sept. 29 and Oct. 1. It intends to give the full commission its findings and recommendations, according to the committee's August announcement. Carole Holley chairs the committee.

The public sessions fall in the last two weeks before the Nov. 3 general election, when voters will decide Ballot Measure 2, which would repeal ranked-choice voting and the open top-four primary.

Both sessions run from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, with public statements taken as time allows. Written comments are due within 30 days of each meeting.