Ranked choice voting faced setbacks as measures in Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, and Idaho were rejected last week.
In Colorado, Proposition 131 proposed an open primary system where the top four candidates would advance to the general election, with voters ranking their choices. Data scientist Seth Werfel noted, It has some merits, but it’s not a slam dunk. Voters are skeptical of anything they can’t immediately understand.
Idaho’s Proposition 1, which aimed to end the party primary system, was rejected by nearly 70% of voters. CalTech professor Michael Alvarez commented, “You need a strong statewide issue to justify complex changes like this.
In Oregon, Proposition 117 failed with 58% of voters opposing it. Political science professor Chandler James remarked that while voters were hesitant to change the voting system, it doesn’t mark the end for ranked choice voting in the future.
Nevada’s similar measure was narrowly rejected by 53% of voters. Although it had passed in 2022, Nevada requires constitutional amendments to pass in two consecutive elections before taking effect.
Ranked choice voting is already in use statewide in Alaska and Maine, as well as in cities like New York City. However, in Alaska, a repeal measure might pass narrowly. Hawaii uses ranked choice voting for some special elections.
Missouri took a different approach, approving a constitutional amendment to ban ranked choice voting. State Sen. Ben Brown emphasized, “We believe in the one person, one vote system of elections.
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