Open primaries open the door
More Choice Voting depends on a primary every voter can join. Without it, independents are still shut out of the round that picks the finalists. That is why new supporters are asked to back open primaries first.
Better representation
More Choice Voting.
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More Choice Voting combines an open primary with ranked choice or approval voting so voters get more than two real options.
More Choice Voting is the reform that builds on open primaries. All candidates appear on one primary ballot, several top finishers advance, and the general election is decided by ranking, so the winner needs broad support. Alaska adopted a version in 2020, and voters there later rejected repeal.
What is More Choice Voting and how does it work?
It works in two rounds. First, an open primary: every voter receives one ballot listing every candidate, and the top finishers, often four or five, advance. Second, a general election where voters rank those finalists. If no one wins a majority of first choices, the last-place candidate is eliminated and those ballots count for each voter's next choice until someone has majority support.
Why two choices is not enough
83%
of races effectively decided before the general election.
52.6%
of Alaska voters voted No on repealing open primaries and ranked choice voting.
2020
Alaska adopts a final-four open primary with ranked choice voting.
Why start with open primaries first?
More Choice Voting widens the field
Once every voter is in, sending more than two finalists to November gives voters a real choice and makes representatives answer to constituents rather than party leadership.
Where is More Choice Voting used?
Alaska adopted a final-four system in 2020 that pairs an open primary with ranked choice voting. Final-five and top-five systems have passed in Alaska and are advancing in other states. Read which states have open primaries for the current map, and start with the open primaries overview if you are new to reform.
“When voters have real choices, representatives have to earn real support.”
Common questions
- What is More Choice Voting?
- More Choice Voting is the Independent Voter Project reform for widening the field of viable candidates. It combines an open primary, where all candidates appear on one ballot and the top finishers advance, with ranked choice or approval voting in the general election, so the winner must earn broad support rather than survive a low-turnout primary.
- How does ranked choice voting work in a general election?
- Voters rank candidates in order of preference instead of picking only one. If no candidate wins a majority of first choices, the last-place candidate is eliminated and those ballots move to each voter's next choice, repeating until one candidate has majority support. Paired with an open primary, it lets more than two candidates compete in November.
- Where is More Choice Voting already used?
- Alaska adopted a final-four system in 2020 that pairs an open primary with ranked choice voting. Final-five and top-five systems have passed in Alaska and are advancing in other states. Alaska voters later rejected a repeal, with 52.6% voting No on Ballot Measure 2 as of the latest count.
- Why does IVP say two choices is not enough?
- 83% of races are effectively decided before the general election. When November offers one Democrat and one Republican, often in a safe district, voters settle for the lesser of two options. More Choice Voting aims to make more races competitive so representatives answer to constituents rather than party leadership.
- How does More Choice Voting relate to open primaries?
- Open primaries come first. They give every voter access to the opening round, and More Choice Voting builds on that by sending more than two finishers to a general election decided by ranking. The recommended path for new supporters is to back open primaries first, then explore More Choice Voting.
Open primaries first. More choice next.
Signing the open primaries petition takes about 30 seconds. Then explore More Choice Voting, the reform that builds on it.