Letters to the Editor

Letter: Ranked choice is fair

Sarah Palin has complained that Alaska’s ranked choice voting system is confusing, convoluted and crazy. In this last election, 55% of Alaska voters didn’t want Sarah Palin to represent Alaska in Congress. She wasn’t our first or even our second choice. Fifty-four percent of Alaska voters didn’t want Kelly Tshibaka serving Alaska in the U.S. Senate. That’s not confusing. That’s simple math.

Under Alaska’s old two-party voting system, there were two ballots Alaska voters had to choose from in the primary election that listed only candidates preselected by each political party. The parties determined who Alaskans could vote for, and only a minority of Alaska voters belong to a political party.

Under our new ranked choice voting system, there’s one primary ballot listing all the candidates running for public office, and it’s available to all Alaskans who want to vote. In the general election, voters choose from candidates who were the top four vote-getters in the primary. That’s not convoluted. That’s pretty simple.

For 42 years, I’ve been an Alaska independent voter. Most Alaskans are. Under our new ranked choice voting system, I can finally use the full power of my vote. That’s not crazy. That’s simply fair.

— Ann Rothe

Eagle River

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