If passed, the MEGA Act (which has also been called the “SAVE Act 2.0”) would immediately impact five states using ranked choice voting in federal elections – Alaska, Maine, Hawaii, Georgia, and Washington, DC.
The RCV prohibition represents anti-democratic overreach – disrespecting and disregarding the will of voters, especially in Alaska and Maine. Voters in Alaska and Maine each voted for ranked choice voting multiple times.
An RCV ban would also hurt military and overseas voters in Georgia, who are only able to participate in runoffs because of ranked ballots. The provision would not have a direct effect on RCV in city and state elections; however, it would likely have a chilling effect on cities, counties, and states considering RCV adoption.
Overall, the bill – which would also prohibit mail-in voting, impose burdensome voter ID requirements, and install a slew of unnecessary mandates – would be costly and chaotic for election administration.
