Alaska's new voting system has Sarah Palin facing Santa Claus for Congress

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/alaskas-new-voting-system-sarah-palin-facing-santa-claus-congress-rcna32441

Alaska’s new voting system and an unexpected special election have attracted a crowd of 48 candidates to run for the state’s lone House seat this year, including former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and a Democratic socialist from the city of North Pole, who legally changed his name to Santa Claus.

The contest on Saturday is the state’s first foray into nonpartisan primaries and ranked-choice voting after a narrowly passed 2020 ballot measure upended the typical party primary system.

The new system had been expected to launch later in the state’s scheduled August primary, but longtime Rep. Don Young’s death in March forced a special election to fill his seat more quickly. Now, onlookers and candidates wonder how voters will engage with the new system: Will they stick with party-endorsed candidates, or will they give a more nontraditional candidate, like Claus, a chance at a seat in Congress?

"The question, of course, will be do Alaska citizens fully grasp the power right now that they have to look at these candidates as individuals and not as party folks. Or will we cleave more closely to parties?" said Amy Lauren Lovecraft, a professor of political science at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. "That is the open question."

*snip*

[madaboutharry]

1. I hope Alaskans decide they were embarrassed enough by this idiot.

[Celerity]

2. I hope Santa Claus wins (not joking)

[wackadoo wabbit]

4. I'd vote for him /nt

[SCantiGOP]

3. Vote is going on now

They should have returns some time tomorrow.
Top 4 move to next election, which is ranked voting.

On edit: I looked it up and they are a only 1 hour earlier than Pacific Coast time.