Ranked choice voting: What is it, how does it work, and will it change Alaskan politics?

Abstract

Following its adoption by ballot initiative last year, Alaska’s future state and national elections will be held under Ranked Choice Voting, allowing voters to specify not just their favored candidate but also their second, third and fourth choices. This system is gaining ground across the US and has been used for over a century in Australia, home of Prof Reilly. He is visiting Juneau for his research and will discuss how Ranked Choice Voting works; its implications for voters, candidates and political parties; and what insights from comparative experience suggests for how the new system may impact Alaskan politics.