Understanding Ranked Choice Voting in Juneau

The City & Borough of Juneau Assembly is considering Ordinance 2025-13(c), which would implement Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for single-member races in municipal elections. 

What is Ranked Choice Voting?

Ranked Choice Voting is an election method that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference: first choice, second choice, third choice, and so on. Instead of voting for a single candidate, voters may express multiple preferences. 

How does it work? 

  • If a candidate receives more than 50% of the first-choice votes, that candidate wins.
  • If no candidate has a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Votes for that candidate are redistributed to the next-choice candidates indicated on those ballots.
  • This process continues until one candidate receives a majority.

What races would it apply to? 

  • RCV would be used in races where there is only one open seat on the ballot, such as for Mayor or standard Assemblymember races.
  • RCV would NOT be used in races with multiple seats on the ballot (called multimember races), such as the Board of Education.

Potential benefits: 

  • Single-member races would look like State elections, providing more consistency for voters.
  • May increase the number of people willing to run for office.
  • Winning candidates must have support from the majority of voters.
  • Can reduce the impact of vote-splitting among similar candidates.
  • Allows voters to express preferences more fully.

Considerations: 

  • Transitioning to a new election process can be difficult on voters and election staff, requiring voter education for the public and increased training for staff.
  • Counting is more complex than our current voting system. Election staff would be able to release first round results on the same schedule as the current system, but would not be able to rank until after all ballots were counted—generally two weeks after election day.
  • RCV software would increase the cost of elections by approximately $10,000 per year.

What about the multimember races? 

  • Multimember races, where there are multiple open seats like the Board of Education, would remain the same as the current system (block voting).
  • Block voting is where all candidates appear in the same race and people can choose the number of candidates equal to the number of open seats.

Next steps

The Assembly will take public testimony on Ordinance 2025-13(c) An Ordinance Amending the Election Procedures: Ranked Choice Voting at the August 18 Regular Assembly Meeting. The Assembly will next take this up at the November 3 Regular Assembly meeting.

Agenda & packet materials: https://juneauak.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1195/files/agenda/11053 

Zoom link: https://juneau.zoom.us/j/91515424903 

Dial-in: 1-253-215-8782 

Meeting ID: 915 1542 4903 

August 18th, 2025|

2025 CBJ municipal election candidate filing period opens July 18

The 2025 City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) Regular Municipal Election candidate filing period opens Friday, July 18 at 8 a.m. and closes Monday, July 28, at 4:30 p.m.

This fall, Juneau voters will elect three (3) Assembly members and three (3) Board of Education (School Board) members. Juneau residents are encouraged to consider this opportunity to serve the public and contribute to their community.

All candidate filings must be submitted in person at the Municipal Clerk’s Office located on the second floor of City Hall — 155 Heritage Way, Room 215. Candidates are encouraged to file as early as possible during the filing period to allow for time to correct any errors or insufficiencies in their paperwork.

The Clerk’s Office cannot certify a candidate’s nominating petition without the following paper documents filed in the Clerk’s Office by Monday, July 28 at 4:30 p.m.

Declaration of Candidacy must be submitted to the Clerk in their original paper form including signatures and notarization. Form available at juneau.org/clerk/elections

Nominating Petition must be submitted to the Clerk in their original paper form including signatures. Form available at juneau.org/clerk/elections

Public Official Financial Disclosure (POFD) must be filed electronically though APOC’s website and a printed signed copy submitted to the Clerk. Log in to my.alaska.gov to start the process.

Candidates for office must meet eligibility criteria including voter registration and residency requirements. Eligibility criteria for Assembly and Board of Education differ, so be sure to check the correct form.

Candidates may only run for one elected office (Assembly or Board of Education) at a time.

 

The following seats are open in this election:

Assembly – 3 Open Seats for Full 3-Year Terms

  • One (1) Areawide Assembly Seat, candidates may live anywhere within the CBJ.
  • One (1) District 1 Assembly Seat, candidates must live in Downtown Juneau, Douglas, North Douglas, Lemon Creek or the Airport area.
  • One (1) District 2 Assembly Seat, candidates must live in the Mendenhall Valley, Auke Bay or Out-the-Road.

View a map of Assembly districts.

Assemblymembers are limited to a maximum of three consecutive three-year terms and must take a minimum of a one-year break before they are eligible to run again for Assembly. Juneau area voters may vote for all races on the ballot.

 

Board of Education – 3 Open Seats for Various Terms

  • Two (2) seats are for full three-year terms
  • One (1) seat is for an unexpired two-year term.

Juneau voters may vote for up to three candidates.

Board of Education candidates may reside anywhere within the CBJ. There are no term limits for Board of Education members.

 

2025 Regular CBJ Municipal Election Information

The last day to vote in the Municipal Election is Tuesday, October 7. Ballots are mailed to all registered voters on Friday, September 19. Voters are encouraged to return their voted ballot by-mail via USPS or at one of the five Ballot Drop Box locations around town to avoid waiting in line at a Vote Center on Election Day. The deadline to register to vote or update your voter information (including mailing address) is September 7.

For more information on CBJ elections, including what to do if you are traveling during election season, visit juneau.org/clerk/elections or contact the Clerk’s Office at (907) 586-5278 or [email protected]

July 11th, 2025|

Are You Registered to Vote?

Are You Registered to Vote

It’s Easy!

Register to Vote or Update Your Voter Information

Have you changed your name, residence address or mailing address, an updated voter registration application should be completed. Register to vote or update your information at any of the following physical locations during regular office hours:

State Division of Elections’ Office, 240 Main St., Room 601, Monday – Friday

State Division of Elections – Region I Office, Mendenhall Mall Annex, Monday – Friday

Municipal Building, 155 Heritage Way, Clerk’s Office Room 214/215, Monday – Friday

Any CBJ Library – check schedule for hours: http://www.juneau.org/library/contact_branch.php

Check your Voter Registration status 24/7:

https://myvoterportal.alaska.gov/

June 30th, 2025|

Citizen Initiative Petition Status

Initiative Petition Booklets 2021

As of June 20, 2025, the Municipal Clerk’s Office is in the final 10-day check for the 3 citizens petitions circulated by Affordable Juneau:

Charter Amendment Short Title: Mill Rate Cap Amendment

Initiative Short Title: Poll Based Elections

Initiative Short Title: Sales Tax Exemptions

A final certification notice or denial notice will be provided by close of business June 30, 2025.

For Reference: April 28, 2025 Municipal Clerk Letter to Petition Committee which includes the redacted Petition Affidavits & the City Attorney’s legal review memo.

June 24th, 2025|

Learn the basics of running for local office at free workshop on May 3

Run for local office workshop banner

Have you ever thought about running for local office? This October, Juneau voters will elect several Assembly and School Board members—and one of them could be you.

CBJ and the Juneau League of Women Voters will host the eleventh annual “How to Run for Local Office” workshop on Saturday, May 3, from 8:45 to 11:30 a.m. in the CBJ Assembly Chambers (155 Heritage Way).

The workshop is designed to help educate and prepare people interested in running for local, municipal office or school board. Learn about what elected officials do, how to prepare for your run, requirements for candidacy, and the basics of a campaign. Each attendee will receive a full toolkit of information, including legal forms, references, and other resources for a local campaign.

This workshop is free. To register, visit juneaulwv.org/run. (Although drop-ins are welcome, registrations are highly encouraged to ensure materials are available for everyone.) Questions? Contact [email protected].

All CBJ 2025 Regular Municipal Election information will be available at juneau.org/clerk/elections as election season approaches.

This workshop is sponsored by:

Juneau League of Women Voters
City and Borough of Juneau Clerk’s Office
Juneau School District

With support from Juneau Public Libraries and Friends of Juneau Public Libraries.

For questions, please contact the Juneau League of Women Voters at [email protected].

April 28th, 2025|
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