VAST VIEW Alaska Left Hanging: Senate and Governor Races Could Hinge on Ranked Choice Tiebreaker
Alaskans are stuck waiting as votes trickle in for a fierce Senate race and a wide-open governor's contest, with both potentially headed to ranked choice tabulation to determine a winner.
Photo by 8385 via Pixabay
Election officials in Alaska continued counting ballots Wednesday as the state's high-profile U.S. Senate race and its open governor's contest remained too close to call, according to PBS NewsHour.
Both races could ultimately be decided through Alaska's ranked choice voting system, which kicks in if no candidate secures a majority of first-choice votes outright. That process redistributes votes from eliminated candidates in rounds until one contender crosses the threshold, a step that typically takes additional time after Election Day.
The Senate contest has been described as bitterly contested, while the governor's race features an open seat with no incumbent on the ballot. Voters and candidates alike are now in a holding pattern as officials work through the tabulation process.
What happens next
PBS NewsHour reports that further results are expected in the coming days as ballots continue to be processed, with the ranked choice mechanism standing ready to settle either race if needed.
Sources: PBS NewsHour
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