CHICAGO, IL — Millions of voters around the country voted against Ranked Choice Voting initiatives in the 2024 election, rejecting RCV in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon. However, Washington, D.C. voters chose to establish ranked-choice voting for elections in D.C., and Alaska voters chose to retain RCV.

“This November, voters in seven states decided that RCV is not a good fit for their state. As the Institute for Responsive Government has repeatedly emphasized, RCV is not a one-size-fits-all solution and policymakers should carefully consider the benefits and drawbacks in their state.” said Sam Oliker-Friedland, executive director of the Institute for Responsive Government. “Any state that decides to adopt RCV should have a well-funded, well-designed system with critical support from election administrators. Many of the initiatives that failed this year simply lacked the clarity and support necessary for the implementation of a sound RCV system, and failed to provide clear plans to minimize voter confusion and voter error.”

“RCV is not a panacea to all of the issues seen in our democratic process, and other reforms may offer a better solution for creating more stable, accountable governments,” Oliker-Friedland continued. “For example, proportional representation can offer a simpler approach that accurately reflects voter support for political parties, while also increasing turnout and eliminating gerrymandering in ways that RCV cannot. Proportional representation has the potential to make government more accountable to its constituents, give voters more choices within and across political parties, and reduce the risk of political instability that comes with our current systems.”

2024 Election RCV Initiative Outcomes:

• Alaska: The ballot measure to repeal ranked choice voting narrowly failed. Alaska’s RCV system, paired with a top-four blanket primary, was originally passed by Alaska voters in the 2020 election by a narrow margin of one percent.
• Arizona: Arizona voters rejected Proposition 140, defeating a proposal to adopt blanket primaries and requiring RCV in elections where three or more candidates advance from the primary.
  Arizona voters also simultaneously rejected Proposition 133, which would have required partisan primaries and banned ranked-choice voting.
• Colorado: Colorado voters rejected Proposition 131, defeating a proposal to adopt a top-four blanket primary and RCV electoral system for Congress, statewide offices, and state legislature.
• Idaho: Idaho voters rejected Proposition 1, defeating a proposal to adopt a top-four primary and RCV electoral system for congressional, state, and county elected offices.
• Montana: Montana voters rejected CI-126 and CI-127, defeating a proposal that would have adopted a top-four primary and given the legislature power to adopt an RCV electoral system for state and congressional elections.
• Missouri: Missouri voters approved Amendment 7, prohibiting RCV and requiring plurality primary elections, where one winner advances to the general election.
• Nevada: Nevada voters rejected Question 3, defeating a top-five blanket primary and RCV electoral system for general elections, applying to congressional and state elections. Notably, Nevada’s proposal would have established RCV by amending the state’s constitution, which would have effectively locked Nevada into these reforms, limiting the ability of the state legislature to revise procedures in response to changed circumstances, implementation challenges, or unintended consequences.
• Oregon: Oregon voters rejected Measure 117, defeating ranked-choice voting in primary and general elections for federal and state executive offices beginning in 2028.
• Washington, D.C.: D.C. voters approved Initiative 83, creating an open primary system allowing voters who are unaffiliated with a political party to vote in a party primary election, and establishing RCV for elections in Washington, D.C., beginning in 2026.

To speak with Sam Oliker-Friedland, executive director of Responsive Gov, about 2024 RCV election outcomes and proportional representation, please contact dan@responsivegov.org.