US midterm elections 2026: Why do Maine and Alaska count votes differently from other states? Here's how ranked-choice voting works

In the United States, only two states don't count votes like the rest of the country. Alaska and Maine employ ranked-choice voting throughout their territory. Big cities like New York have also embraced the practice reportedly. Ranked-choice-voting (RCV) is an electoral system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference instead of selecting only one. In it, voters can mark their first, second, third and subsequent choices on the ballot. In most of the US states, elections follow a traditional voting system in which the candidate receiving the highest number of votes wins. Under ranked-choice voting, a candidate generally needs to secure more that 50% of the votes in the final round to win. This allows voters to support their preferred candidate without necessarily helping elect someone they oppose.

How does ranked-choice voting work?

After voting ends, officials first count all first-choice preferences. If a candidate receives more than 50% of the votes, they win. If no candidate secures a majority, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated.

Votes cast for the eliminated candidate are transferred to the next available preference marked on those ballots. Officials then count the votes again. If no candidate has a majority, the elimination and redistribution process continues. The process ends when a candidate receives a majority of the continuing votes.


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Why do Maine and Alaska use ranked-choice voting?

Maine became the first US state to adopt ranked-choice voting after voters approved a ballot initiative in 2016. The state first used the system in its June 2018 primary elections.

Meanwhile, Alaska adopted ranked-choice voting through a ballot initiative approved by voters in 2020. The state introduced an open primary system alongside ranked-choice voting. Alaska first used the system in its August 2022 special general election.

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How are Maine and Alaska's voting system different?

Maine users ranked-choice voting in state primary election and general elections for federal offices, including president, US Senate and House of Representatives. It does not use ranked-choice voting in general elections for governor or state legislature.

Alaska follows an open primary system in which candidates from all political parties compete in the same primary. The four candidates receiving the highest number of votes advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

Voters then rank those four candidates in order of preference during the general election. Alaska uses ranked-choice voting for election for president, governor, US Senate, US House and state legislatives offices.