Alaska: Measure 2

Campaign Summary

Over half of Alaskan voters are not affiliated with either major party, but independent voters are locked out of primary elections. Measure 2 includes three commonsense reforms to reduce partisanship and elect leaders committed to moving Alaska forward. It ends dark money, creates a single unified primary open to voters of all political parties, and empowers voters to rank candidates in order of preference. These simple updates to how we choose our leaders will return the power of elections to its rightful place — the voters.

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November 2020

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November 17, 2020

Victory! Two weeks after Election Day, the race is called for Measure 2. Over 170,000 Alaskans voted “yes” on the measure.

November 3, 2020

Voters head to the polls on Election Day. Absentee votes won’t be counted for another week, delaying the final results.

October 2020

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October 12, 2020

Alaska Natives for Better Elections Coalition launches in support of Measure 2 on Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

October 8, 2020

Opposition group “Defend Alaska Elections” is found guilty of misleading voters and obscuring the sources of its funding.

October 5, 2020

Fisheries for Better Elections coalition launches in support of Measure 2, saying they want “policymakers with the guts to fight for Alaskans, not toe the party line.”

October 1, 2020

The Yes on 2 campaign releases new TV and radio ads.

September 2020

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September 29, 2020

Polling shows that 59% of Alaskans support Measure 2.

September 28, 2020

The League of Women Voters of Alaska endorses Measure 2.

September 22, 2020

The Yes on 2 campaign files a complaint against the dark-money-funded “Defend Alaska Elections” group, alleging that the No on 2 campaign misled voters by hiding huge paychecks from out-of-state groups.

September 17, 2020

Bipartisan Legislators for Better Elections launches in support of Measure 2. The coalition of current and former elected officials includes Republican, Democratic, and Independent members.

September 15, 2020

Yes on 2 Campaign launches its first television ad, focusing on the problem of dark money in Alaskan elections.

September 3, 2020

Santa Claus, a city council member in the town of North Pole, endorses the Yes on 2 campaign.

June 2020

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June 12, 2020

The Alaska Supreme Court rules that the Alaskans for Better Elections initiative is constitutional, confirming its place on the ballot.

March 2020

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March 9, 2020

The state certifies the petition signatures as valid. The proposal will be on the ballot if the Alaska Supreme Court rules in its favor.

February 2020

February 19, 2020

Alaskans for Better Elections makes its case to the Alaska Supreme Court.

January 2020

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January 9, 2020

Alaskans for Better Elections turns in over 41,000 petition signatures from Alaskans in support of the proposed measure.

2019

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November 1, 2019

Alaskans for Better Elections begins to collect petition signatures for the ballot. The campaign must turn in 28,501 valid signatures from Alaskans by January 21 to qualify for the ballot.

October 28, 2019

The court finds in favor of Alaskans for Better Elections. Almost immediately, the ruling is appealed by the Lieutenant Governor.

August 30, 2019

The Lieutenant Governor’s office rejects the proposed ballot initiative, blocking the measure from the ballot.

July 3, 2019

Alaskans for Better Elections files an Initiative Petition with the Lieutenant Governor, requesting permission to gather signatures for the ballot.

A small group of Alaskans comes together to talk about how to put power back in the hands of Alaskan voters. The group soon grows and becomes the Alaskans for Better Elections coalition.

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