Update for Alaska count from Dave Wasserman

[Claustrum]

New Alaska count: Mary Peltola (D) expands lead over Sarah Palin (R) to 16,347 votes. Depending on how many ballots “exhaust,” Palin probably needs 68-70% of Begich second place votes to prevail. It’s going to be close. #AKAL

Link to tweet

[Johnny2X2X]

1. I'd bet a ton of people didn't fill in a ranked choice 2nd

Some just weren’t interested in a second choice. Others maybe didn’t understand the option and so they just only checked their first choice. It wouldn’t surprise me if more than half of people didn’t have a ranked choice.

[Claustrum]

3. That's probably the pathway if democrat is going to take this seat.

It's hard to imagine too many republicans crossing over in this political climate. Though, I really don't know enough about Alaska to know.

[brooklynite]

2. Just to clarify: this is the SPECIAL ELECTION

for the remainder of Don Young's term, ending on Jan 3.

The same candidates (plus one more) will do this again in November.

[ColinC]

5. When you say the "same candidates"

Do you mean every candidate that ran in the first round?

Like, will Santa Claus get another chance??

[brooklynite]

6. Santa Claus didn't run in the August Primary

Peltola, Palin and Begich all will advance to the November (RCV) election. The last candidate wo;; be determined on Aug 31 when mail ballots are due.

[ColinC]

7. Got it.

Thanks! So it'll just 3 of them are on the ballot. I'm optimistic.

[ColinC]

4. If people voted for Begich, they likely either had Peltola as their next option.

Or had no 2nd choice. Most of his second choice votes will probably be non votes.

The campaign between Palin and Begich was as nasty as they get while Peltola worked extra hard to woo those second choice votes from Palin and Begich voters.

[Polybius]

8. If Palin wins, there's only one good thing that could possibly come out of it

Many of you will say "You were right, Polybius." Ranked-choice voting is evil incarnate and must be repealed everywhere."