Alaska Supreme Court upholds ranked choice repeal initiative, now bound for November vote

Pins supporting nan repeal of classed prime voting are seen connected April 20, 2024, astatine nan Republican authorities normal successful Anchorage. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

A ballot measurement that could repeal Alaska’s classed prime predetermination strategy is headed to a ballot successful November, nan Alaska Supreme Court confirmed Thursday.

In a little order, nan court’s 5 members upheld a little tribunal determination that certified Ballot Measure 2, which would repeal nan laws that created nan state’s ranked choice general predetermination and unfastened superior election. 

The bid came soon aft justices heard oral arguments successful an entreaty claiming that nan Alaska Division of Elections improperly certified nan measure.

“Today nan Court quickly affirmed that nan Division of Elections decently interpreted and applied nan rule successful qualifying this inaugural for nan November ballot,” said Senior Assistant Attorney General Lael Harrison, successful a connection issued by email. “The Department of Law is grateful to nan Court for their timely reappraisal and determination connected this issue, successful plentifulness of clip for nan Division’s upcoming ballot printing deadlines.”

At rumor successful nan entreaty was whether nan Division of Elections could legally let petitioners to correct immoderate flaws pinch petition signature books aft they had been submitted to nan division.

Plaintiffs had based on that nan section did not person nan powerfulness to let post-deadline corrections nether existing law, thing nan section has allowed since astatine slightest 2019. 

If plaintiffs had won, nan section would person been required to discard immoderate petition books, denying repeal supporters capable signatures for a ballot this fall. 

Justices did not instantly explicate their reasoning issued Thursday day but said they affirm nan little court’s decision.

“I was very pleased nan tribunal was capable to truthful quickly spot done nan fume nan different broadside was putting out,” said erstwhile Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson, who represented proponents of nan repeal. “Their questions astatine oral statement were very focused and demonstrated they understood nan bosom of nan statutory mentation rumor they were being presented.”

Plaintiffs were represented by lawyer Scott Kendall, who wrote portions of nan state’s existent predetermination laws. Those were enacted by a different ballot measure in 2020. 

By matter message, Kendall said he appreciates nan accelerated ruling but that plaintiffs are disappointed by nan ruling.

“We do not yet cognize nan Court’s reasoning, but contempt demonstrated irregularities successful nan Division of Elections’ handling of nan … petition, they were evidently unwilling to reverse nan superior court,” he said.

He noted that repeal backers are still successful court, facing fines of astir $100,000 aft Alaska’s run finance regulator cited them for forbidden fundraising.