RCV, which allows voters to rank candidates by preference rather than selecting only one, has faced mounting opposition at both state and local levels. This year’s election results featured a mixed outcome, with state-level ballot measures predominantly failing but some cities voting to adopt or maintain RCV.

Here are the major takeaways from RCV ballot initiatives from the 2024 election.

Major defeats for RCV at state level

In several high-profile state initiatives, voters decisively turned down RCV.

Measures to implement RCV in Oregon and to introduce RCV and open primaries in Colorado, Idaho, and Nevada all failed.

Missouri went even further, with voters passing a measure to ban RCV altogether. These setbacks for RCV advocates reflect a growing resistance against the system’s complexities and a belief that it can distort election outcomes in favor of special interests.

Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project Action, framed these results as a win for election integrity.

“Americans across the country resoundingly voted for fair and honest elections yesterday,” Snead said. “Noncitizen voting bans and voter ID requirements passed with flying colors.”

Snead argued that the RCV defeats, particularly Missouri’s move to ban it permanently, showed that “liberal billionaires” attempting to alter democratic systems to suit their interests were met with strong resistance from voters.

A notable example of voter pushback came in Alaska, where RCV had only been in place for a single election cycle before voters were asked this year whether to repeal it. As of Wednesday afternoon, the vote to repeal was slightly ahead with about three-quarters of the vote counted.

Alaska’s case became emblematic of voter frustrations with the new voting style, which some say led to confusion and questioned the integrity of election outcomes.

Local victories show voter support in cities

While the statewide results signal resistance, RCV found favor in a number of local elections. In Washington, D.C., RCV passed with overwhelming support at 73%, reflecting a segment of the electorate that believes RCV promotes fairer elections by ensuring winners have broad support.

Meredith Sumpter, president and CEO of FairVote, emphasized the significance of local victories: “Ranked choice voting took a step forward … as voters in our nation’s capital and several cities said yes to better elections.”

In total, 2.9 million voters nationwide supported RCV in city-level initiatives. Proponents argue that these local victories indicate that voters often embrace RCV once they experience it directly, with many cities successfully implementing it for smoother, more representative elections. Sumpter highlighted that RCV had grown from just 10 cities in 2016 to over 50 today, encompassing nearly 17 million people.

“Changing the status quo is never easy,” Sumpter added, noting that entrenched interests and a growing national opposition worked against RCV in statewide campaigns. Despite these obstacles, she argued that “the future remains bright for ranked choice voting,” citing data that suggests voters tend to favor RCV once it is implemented and established.

A divisive future for RCV

The mixed results underscore the widening divide on RCV as a reform. RCV supporters maintain that the system empowers voters by rewarding candidates who appeal to a broader swath of the electorate, while critics argue that it introduces unnecessary complexity and can favor well-funded candidates who can navigate its nuances effectively.

RCV advocates such as Sumpter say they are undeterred by this year’s setbacks and that the reform will continue to grow due to its benefits of empowering voters and reducing polarization.

“We also have to make a stronger case on how RCV benefits voters and elected officials alike,” Sumpter stated, emphasizing that the system is still growing in popularity at the local level and could reshape elections in the coming years.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The defeats in multiple states, however, may serve as a cautionary tale, signaling that while RCV may gain traction in urban centers and progressive strongholds, it faces a steeper climb to widespread acceptance.

Snead said these outcomes “should send a signal to state and federal lawmakers that the American people support common-sense election integrity policies.”