2020 Ballot Measure 2: Ranked Choice Voting

Alaska Common Ground hosted an online discussion of ballot measure 2 in the 2020 election, introducing ranked choice voting. The event featured two panelists arguing for the measure and two arguing against. It was moderated by Thea Agnew Bemben, principal and founding partner of Agnew::Beck Consulting.

Link to overview of ballot initiative: Ballot Measure 2 overview

Panelists For Ballot Measure 2:

• Scott Kendall serves as Counsel to the Yes on 2 for Better Elections campaign. Scott is an attorney at Holmes Weddle & Barcott and served as Chief of Staff to then-Governor Bill Walker. For decades, Scott has worked all across Alaska in a variety of legal, political, and consulting roles.
• Andrew Halcro, a former state representative and past president of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, is executive director of the Anchorage Community Development Authority.

Link to slides for “for” panelists: AK Common Ground Yes on Two

Panelists Against:

• Brett Huber is an outdoors enthusiast living in Alaska since 1984, has been a fishing guide in the Bristol Bay, Illiamna and South-central regions, a small business owner in King Salmon and Talkeetna, ran a statewide nonprofit in Soldotna, worked in state politics, and is now focusing on defending Alaska elections as campaign manager for No on Ballot Measure 2.
• Anna MacKinnon is a lifelong Alaskan who graduated from Service High School, is the former Executive Director of Standing Together Against Rape (STAR), a founding board member of the Alaska Veterans Museum, served on the Anchorage Assembly, a former State Senator, and is currently donating her personal time as a Co-Chair on Defend Alaska Elections – Vote No on 2.

Link to slides for “against” panelists: AK Common Ground Defend Alaska Elections Vote No on 2 – 10.14.2020

Event Video:

This event was co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters, Anchorage, Youth Vote and Anchorage Public Libraries. It was supported in part by a grant from the Alaska Humanities Forum and the National Endowment for the Humanities, a federal agency. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.