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Ballot Measure · every Alaska voter

Ballot Measure 2Go back to party primaries and end ranked-choice voting

Citizen initiative (state law): 24ESEG, placed on the ballot by voters who signed petitions (Initiative 24ESEG). Passes with a simple majority of the votes cast on it.

Read the full text of the measure: Division of Elections measure pages and Official Election Pamphlet

In plain words

Since 2020, Alaska has used one primary where every candidate is on the same ballot. The top four finishers move on, and in November voters rank them. This measure would end that. Each party would hold its own primary, and in November voters would pick just one candidate. It would also repeal campaign rules passed with the 2020 measure, including limits on gifts to governor and lieutenant governor teams and rules about showing the true source of money. (elections.alaska.gov (Division of Elections) )

Before and after

QuestionTodayIf it passes
Primary electionOne primary for everyone; the top four move onEach party picks its own nominee; voters choose a party’s ballot, unless the party’s bylaws say otherwise
November ballotVoters can rank candidatesVoters vote for only one candidate; the most votes wins
Governor and lieutenant governorRun together as one team from the primary onRun separately in their party primaries, then together in November
Limits on donations to a governor and lieutenant governor teamLimits applyThe limits are removed
Campaign-finance rules from 2020Limits and disclosure rules apply, including for digital ads, out-of-state donations, undisclosed donations and the true source of donationsThose limits and disclosure rules are removed

Numbers from the official ballot title (ballot title ); also see (elections.alaska.gov (Division of Elections) )

Biggest change

Who it affects most: Every voter, because it changes how primaries and the November ballot work, and candidates and campaign donors, because it changes the money rules.

Cost to the state: The state’s own cost statement estimates $2,630,958 in total. That is $6,975 for the Alaska Public Offices Commission, $15,000 for the Lieutenant Governor’s office and $2,608,983 for the Division of Elections. Most of the Division’s part, $2,500,000, is a public education campaign to tell candidates, voters and election workers about the new election rules.

Our plain-words summary. Every line points to its source.

What your vote means

YES

Alaska goes back to party primaries and one-choice general elections, and several 2020 campaign-finance rules are repealed.

NO

Alaska keeps the open top-four primary and ranked-choice voting in November, and the 2020 campaign-finance rules stay.

Our one-line summary. Alaska does not publish an official "what your vote means" statement; the ballot title above is the official description.

Why people want it, and why others object

Why this is on the ballot

Voters put this on the ballot by signing a petition. It changes a state law, which lawmakers can later change. It passes with a simple majority of the votes cast on it.

Why supporters want it

Why opponents object

Who backs each side

In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.

What you will see on your ballot

Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)

The official ballot title, word for word from the Division of Elections' official ballot measure pages .

24ESEG - An Act Restoring Political Party Primaries, Ending Ranked-Choice General Elections, and Repealing Recent Campaign Finance Laws

This act would get rid of open primary elections, where all candidates appear on one ballot. It would also get rid of ranked-choice general elections. It would bring back political party primaries and single-choice general elections. It would also repeal certain campaign finance rules that were added by a 2020 ballot measure.

Elections would occur as they did before open primaries and ranked choice voting. In the primary election, voters would choose a party’s ballot, unless prohibited by the party’s bylaws. They would only vote for candidates on that ballot. The winning candidate from each primary would be the party’s nominee. In the general election, voters would vote for only one candidate in each race. The candidate with the most votes would win. Party petitions, special runoff elections, and other processes would return. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor would run separately in political party primaries and then together in the general election.

This act would also repeal campaign finance rules that were passed in 2020. It would remove the limits on donations to joint campaigns for governor and lieutenant governor. It would remove limits and disclosure rules under current law, including for digital ads, out-of-state donations, undisclosed donations, and the true source of donations. It would change the meaning of a campaign expenditure and remove some fines.

Should this initiative become law?
Yes
No

Word for word from the ballot language in the Division of Elections’ Official Election Pamphlet (Region 3), ballot language and sample ballot.

Latest news

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Full text of the measure

The pamphlet pages hold the ballot language, the state’s summary and cost statement, the full text of the proposed law, and both signed statements. Read it in the Division of Elections measure pages and Official Election Pamphlet .

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