Today at 4 p.m. Alaska’s Division of Elections will livestream its ranked-choice voting tabulation for the special general election to determine who won the contest to replace the late Congressman Don Young.
While the race is far from over, hard-left Democrat Mary Peltola has a slight advantage over Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich. As of Wednesday morning, with 98.76% of precincts reporting, the vote count stands as follows:
— Mary Peltola: 74,496 (39.64%)
— Sarah Palin: 58,149 (30.94%)
— Nick Begich: 52,320 (27.84%)
Since Alaska has a new ranked-choice voting scheme in place, Peltola’s lead will most likely dissipate in the second round of tabulation, when Begich is eliminated.
Under ranked choice voting system, if no candidate garners more than 50% of the vote, the candidate with the least number of first place votes (likely Begich) is eliminated and all the second ranked choices on the eliminated candidate’s ballots are redistributed to the remaining two candidates as “first place” votes.
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Since Begich is a Republican, it is likely that most of the second-choice votes under his name will go to Palin. Once the second round of tabulations are complete, it is quite possible that Palin will emerge as the outright winner.
Whoever prevails will serve out the remaining months of Young’s term, which expires in January of 2023. The full-time replacement for Young will be decided in the November general election, where Palin, Peltola and Begich are all still in the hunt.
Click here to watch the livestream tabulation at 4 p.m. today, Aug. 31.
13 Comments
What a nightmare we have created!
Agree whole heartedly…. Does anyone know if lawsuits or something are in the works to rid Alaska of this corruption?
I’m just wondering… what’s with all the speculation about Begich voters giving their #2 to Peltola? Is it possible the conservative voters in Alaska are really THAT SELF DESTRUCTIVE?
> Is it possible the conservative voters in Alaska are really THAT SELF DESTRUCTIVE?
Yes. Though I think it’s more likely a lot of Begich voters didn’t rank anyone #2.
Letter I sent to Att Gen and vote central
To Whom is Concerned,
This wait for vote count is ridiculous. I am tired of the commercials – paid for by who and how? – attempting to tamper down the wait time.
I am a voter and this system should be illegal. RCV has ruined our ‘transparent’ vote tabulation process and pushed elections back into the dark ages.
RCV: Manipulation and reconstruction has a built in advantage.
I didn’t vote for RCV complicated mess, and I highly doubt the uneducated voters did – slim margin my butt (more like manually adjusted votes) .
Stop making excuses and set a pathway to getting back our elections!
All areas have and have had in person ballot vote available! Nothing new or unusual.
Mail in voting has got to be limited and heavily regulated, this is not a new procedure – get back to protocol.
Hand counts for verification! Statewide Voter Roll Clean up!!!
No honest person believes our votes are handled legally.
Stop the insanity and give Alaskans back our VOTES!
Spot on! Totally agree with all your points!!!
You nailed it 1000%. I’d love to copy your letter and send them one as well!
Traitors
Funny they have been trashing Sarah’s voter’s for not ranking begich. Because they thought they would beat Sara.
Now that the shoe is on the other foot.
Dan falgon been saying he would blame Sarah for putting a democrats into office.
Is Dan going to blame Begich voters Now.
For doing the same thing, Begich voters not ranking Sarah. Funny how that works.
This rank choice voting is so stupidity wrong.
Its cheating, lying, deceiving, wait I could come in last and still win, how wrong is this.
What happened to One Vote in person with ID.
I ranked Sarah #1, Nick #2. Definitely not my fault if Mary wins!
same here
I did the same thing!
Facebook Live: How to appear like you are being transparent by livestreaming without actually letting the public view it!
Thank you Alaska Watchman for your honest reporting!