The Alaska Division of Elections tabulated ranked choice votes in the Nov. 8 general election at 4 p.m. Wednesday, delivering final results in several high-profile races more than two weeks after Alaskans cast their ballots on Election Day. On the ballot were races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor and nearly all 60 seats in the Alaska Legislature.
Under Alaska’s new voting system implemented this year, voters in the general election are able to rank the candidates in each race by order of preference. To win outright, a candidate must receive more than 50% of first-choice votes. If that doesn’t happen, then the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to their supporters’ second choices. That tabulation process repeats until the race is down to two candidates, and whoever has a larger share of votes is declared the winner.
Ballot counts updated Wednesday indicated that some cleared that 50% threshold to win election outright, including incumbent Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy and several legislative candidates.
Read more:
Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski wins reelection
Rep. Mary Peltola wins Alaska’s U.S. House race
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy reelected to second term
What Alaskans can expect as election officials tabulate ranked choice results
Preliminary election results before ranked choice vote tabulation