The Short Answer: Neither
To get right to the point: Alaska has neither a traditional open primary nor a closed primary. Instead, since a 2020 ballot measure narrowly passed, the state has used a non-partisan, top-four primary system for its state and congressional elections. This fundamentally changes the game compared to how most of the country selects its general election candidates. In a closed primary, you must be registered with a party to vote for its candidates. An open primary lets any voter participate in any one party's primary. Alaska's system is something else entirely, often called a 'jungle primary' or, more formally, a top-four blanket primary. Everyone gets the same ballot, and everyone can vote for any candidate they choose.
How the Top-Four Primary Works
Imagine a single ballot where
all candidates for an office are listed together, regardless of their party affiliation—Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or independent. That's what Alaskan voters see on primary day. Every registered voter, no matter their own party status, can choose one candidate from this combined list. It’s a pick-one, all-in contest. The primary’s purpose isn't to select a nominee for each party. Instead, its sole function is to narrow the field. The top four candidates who receive the most votes automatically advance to the general election. This means the general election could feature four Republicans, two Democrats and two independents, or any other combination. The parties don't control who moves on; the voters do.
The Second Act: Ranked-Choice in the General Election
Advancing from the primary is only the first step. The four candidates then face off in a general election decided by ranked-choice voting (RCV). Here, instead of picking just one candidate, voters rank them in order of preference: first choice, second choice, and so on. To win, a candidate must secure more than 50% of the vote. If no one hits that majority with first-choice votes alone, the counting goes into rounds. The candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated. The ballots that ranked that eliminated candidate first are then redistributed to their voters' second-choice pick. This process of elimination and redistribution continues until one candidate has a majority and is declared the winner.
Why Alaska Made the Switch
The shift to this new system was the result of Ballot Measure 2 in 2020, which proponents argued would reduce political polarization and give more power to Alaska's large bloc of independent voters. The old system was a semi-closed primary, where Republicans had their own ballot and all other parties shared a separate, open one. Supporters of the new system claimed it would encourage candidates to seek broader support beyond their party's base, knowing they might need second- or third-choice votes to win the general election. The goal was to reward consensus-builders over partisan warriors and give voters more meaningful choices in November.
Impact and Lingering Debates
Since its first use in 2022, the system has had a noticeable impact. It famously helped elect Democrat Mary Peltola to Congress, the first Alaska Native in that role, in a state that often leans Republican. Research and observations suggest the system has contributed to the formation of a cross-partisan coalition in the state legislature and may favor more moderate candidates who can appeal to a wider swath of the electorate. However, the system remains a subject of intense debate. It has faced legal challenges and a repeal attempt that narrowly failed in 2024. Critics argue it is too confusing for voters and can dilute the power of political parties, while supporters maintain it produces more representative outcomes and better governance.
