The grassroots effort to repeal Alaska’s controversial ranked-choice voting system fell short of its goal.

After counting roughly 320,000 ballots, Ballot Measure 2 lost by just 664 votes – 160,619 to 159,955 – or 50.1% to 49.9%.

Alaska’s Division of Elections released its final tabulation during a livestream event on Nov. 20.

Narrowly approved by voters in 2020, ranked-choice voting and jungle primaries have been a divisive and controversial issue in Alaska politics with conservative critics claiming that it benefits Democrats and political leftists.

With such a narrow victory, the Ballot Measure 2 contest is likely headed to a recount before the state officially certifies the results of the Nov. 5 general election.

Phil Izon, the man who spearheaded the effort to get Ballot Measure 2 on the ballot, has already said he is working on “round 2.” Izon plans to make another go at ditching ranked-choice voting, and is actively recruiting volunteers.

“I need 100 sponsors to submit the new Repeal of RCV, I have changed the language to call the bill ‘Remove Ranked Choice Voting,'” Izon said in a recent email to repeal supporters. “I will have another petition ready later this year, I will need 100 sponsors on that petition as well.”

In the lead up to the Nov. 5 election, opponents of ranked-choice were outspent by roughly $12 million as historic levels of outside money flooded Alaska to oppose the repeal effort.

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