That's almost one for every state
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Hi Friend,

 

Forty eight.

 

That’s the number of declared candidates that are running for Alaska’s open
house seat. It’s a TON of candidates. In an ordinary election, we’d be
concerned that the winner of the election would have just a plurality [less
than 51%] of support.

 

Fortunately, Alaska leads the way in election reform. Following the
nonpartisan primary — in which every voter will have a voice — the top four
candidates will continue on to a general election, where ranked choice voting
will be used to determine the winner. Because the state is using ranked choice
voting, the winner is going to represent a  majority of Alaska voters, far more
than the previous system allowed. 

 

Better representation, better elections. It’s the Alaska way (and maybe soon,
a few other states…)

 

Here are three things to think about this week.

Is Alaska ready for their new election system (Yes)
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Following the death of Representative Don Young, Alaska election officials
must now introduce the new election system to Alaska voters six months earlier
than previously planned. But Alaska’s election administrators are prepared,
says Gail Fenumiai, Alaska’s Division of Election Director.


Though the system is new, Alaskans understood the measure when they chose to
adopt it in 2020. What’s more, while the tabulation process is new, the system
for administering the election has largely remained the same. Groups like
Alaskans for Better Elections have been working since the measure passed to
familiarize voters with the new system, andAlaska’s Division of Elections
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has been working on their end to ensure voters are prepared.Read more
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about how Alaskans have been preparing for their new election system.



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RCV: a solution Utah Republicans can get behind
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Last year, more Utahans than ever used ranked choice voting for their
municipal elections as part of a pilot program in the state. In anopinion piece
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, three former officials in the Utah Republican Party voice their support for
the reform, arguing that it’s a long-used reform in the Beehive State that
improves voter experience. 


“We support ranked-choice voting because it’s an overall better experience for
the voter and leaves voters feeling less disenfranchised about the process and
the results,” they write. “With RCV, you can vote your conscience and rank each
candidate by preference, without strategically voting for the “lesser of two
evils” or worrying about vote splitting and so-called “spoiler” candidates.
Ranked-choice voting simply cures those problems.Now you can vote for someone
and not against someone.” Read their full piece here
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.



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Protecting election officials still matters
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A staggering statistic for you: in a poll of 596 local election officials, one
in six reported that they have experienced threats. 75% of those polled felt
that the number of threats had increased in recent years. 

 

These are dire statistics. Without sensible individuals running our elections,
our democracy falls to the mercy of whoever is overseeing the elections. These
threats only serve to drive election officials out of their jobs, and so far,
states have done tragically little to help better protect them. This week, PBS
Wisconsin takes a closer look at the issues facing their election officials and
the conditions these public servants are operating under.Check it out
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.



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Best,

 

Brett
__
Brett Maney
Senior Communications Manager
Unite America
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