Nick Begich pushes the federal ban on ranked choice voting through new legislation to eliminate the system in federal elections nationwide. On Monday, the Republican congressman from Alaska released a statement criticizing ranked choice voting for adding confusion and uncertainty to the election.
Begich has completed Alaska´s ranked-choice voting system three times and believes traditional ‘One person, one vote’ works best. Alaska voters narrowly approved ranked choice voting and open primaries through a 2020 ballot measure changing how state and federal races work.
Supporters argue the system elects more consensus candidates, but opponents say it confuses voters and complicates the voting process. Begich joined several Republican lawmakers in pushing the federal bill, though critics warn it represents a massive overreach into state election control.
Anchorage attorney Scott Kendall, one author of Alaska´s 2020 ballot measure, said the proposed law would strip states of election authority. Kendall said Begich´s comments misrepresent ranked-choice voting, which courts have repeatedly upheld as consistent with the one person, one vote principle.
He warned that passing the bill could create chaos, forcing Alaskans to use two voting systems for state and federal candidates. Opposition to ranked-choice voting has grown in Alaska with a repeal initiative recently approved for signature gathering ahead of the 2026 ballot.
A similar repeal attempt failed in 2024, leaving the current system in place for Alaska elections despite continued controversy. Begich´s push fuels the debate, sharpening tensions between state selection autonomy and federal attempts to standardize election practices. The federal ban on ranked choice voting raises questions about how much control states should maintain over their own election rules.
