Ranked choice voting will be used in two of the Senate races that could tip control of Congress, in Maine and Alaska, with Election Day on November 3. If nobody wins a majority of first choices, both states run extra rounds of counting. That can push a final result past election night by days or even weeks.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- In Maine, the U.S. Senate race and the 2nd Congressional District race use ranked ballots this year; the governor’s race does not.
- Alaska uses ranked ballots for its Senate, House, governor and legislative races, and plans any extra rounds for November 18.
- Alaska’s Ballot Measure 2 asks voters whether to repeal the system and return to party primaries.
Democrats win control of the House and Senate, networks project
How does ranked choice voting work?
Voters number the candidates in order of preference instead of marking just one. You can rank as many or as few as you like, and nobody has to rank everyone.
The count then works like an instant runoff:
- Officials first tally everyone's top choice. If one candidate has more than half, that candidate wins and the count stops.
- If not, the last-place candidate drops out.
- Each ballot for that candidate moves to the next name its voter ranked.
- The steps repeat until someone passes 50%.
So a candidate who leads on first choices can still lose. The Maine Monitor reports that this has happened three times since Maine began using the method.
Which Maine races use ranked choice voting in 2026?
Maine applies the system only to federal contests with at least three candidates, and declared write-in candidates count toward that total. This year that means two races.
| Maine race | Candidates on the ballot | Ranked count? |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senate | Susan Collins (R), Troy Jackson (D), plus six declared write-ins | Yes |
| 2nd Congressional District | Paul LePage (R), Matt Dunlap (D), plus one declared write-in | Yes |
| 1st Congressional District | Two candidates, no declared write-ins | No |
| Governor | Hannah Pingree (D), Bobby Charles (R), Rick Bennett (I), plus write-ins | No |
Source: The Maine Monitor's 2026 voter guide and FairVote.
Why not the governor? Maine's highest court has advised more than once that ranked ballots clash with the parts of the state constitution covering general elections for state offices. State law governs federal races and primaries, so the method still applies to them. Mainers first adopted it by referendum in 2016.
With only two names printed on the Senate ballot, the count may never need a second round. However, if the write-in candidates draw enough votes to keep Collins and Jackson below 50%, those voters' second choices could decide the seat. Our Maine Senate race guide covers the candidates and polls.
How does ranked choice voting work in Alaska?
Alaska uses a different design. Since a 2020 ballot measure, all candidates run in a single primary, the top four advance, and the general election is ranked. It covers federal, state and legislative races.
The Senate race features incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola among four names on the ballot, according to Ballotpedia. In the August 18 primary, Peltola took 49.5% and Sullivan 41.4%. This is the second time an Alaska Senate general election will use ranked ballots, after 2022. Our Alaska Senate race explainer has the latest polls and the dispute over a second Dan Sullivan on the ballot.
Alaska Public Media lists the key dates. Mailed ballots need a November 3 postmark or must arrive by that day. If no candidate clears 50%, the state runs its ranked tabulation on November 18. The state aims to certify results on November 25.
Alaskans are also voting on the system itself. Ballot Measure 2 would repeal ranked general elections and open primaries, bring back party primaries and remove some campaign finance disclosure rules that the 2020 measure created.
When will we know who won in Maine and Alaska?
Possibly not on election night. In Maine, towns send ballots and memory devices to Augusta for central tabulation when a race goes to extra rounds. The June primary count took 10 days to finish, according to the Maine Monitor.
Alaska waits longer by design, because it runs its ranked tabulation on November 18. As a result, a close race there may stay uncalled until mid-November. Our explainer on when we will know midterm results covers other slow-counting states.
Both races matter for Senate control. Decision Desk HQ's model rates Maine a toss-up and Alaska as leaning Democratic, and these are probabilities, not results. The live numbers sit on our midterm election forecast page.
How to watch election night live
Maine's polls close at 8 p.m. Eastern (1 a.m. GMT), while Alaska's last polls close at 8 p.m. local time, which is midnight Eastern and 5 a.m. GMT. Our guide to watching midterm results live covers every major channel.
For gavel-to-gavel coverage, try the C-SPAN live stream. The Fox News live stream and CNN will also run results shows through the night. Readers in Europe can check how to watch the US midterms in the UK and Europe.
Coming soon: the NewsLive streaming app. We're building one subscription for live international news on Android, Roku, Fire TV and desktop. The service is under development. See what the NewsLive app will offer and join the early-access list.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to rank every candidate?
No. In both Maine and Alaska you may rank one candidate or several. If every candidate you ranked drops out, your ballot simply stops counting in later rounds.
Which states use ranked choice voting for Congress?
FairVote lists Maine and Alaska as the two states using it for this November's congressional races. Some cities also use it for local elections.
Is ranked choice voting on the ballot in Alaska?
Yes. Ballot Measure 2 would repeal it along with the top-four primary. Find more explainers in our Elections section.
