| Marc Swanson | Anchorage Daily News |
Sixty-three percent of Alaskans are not registered as Republicans or Democrats. We’re independent. It is ingrained in our lifestyle and values. Yet in a conventional primary, we end up with two candidates, one from each party, crammed down our throats. Frankly, sometimes neither one is particularly palatable. But what choice do we have?
Power to the people
Bottom line: Ranked choice voting gives power to the people while taking it away from the political party establishments. It tones down rhetoric since appealing only to the base is less likely to provide the 50.1% necessary to win. And it puts responsibility on each of us to understand each candidate rather than choosing the flavor we’re supposed to eat.
Additionally, Ballot Measure 2 concerns more than ranked choice voting. Its official summary says it would also eliminate the open primary and repeal campaign-finance disclosure provisions adopted in 2020.