As the clock strikes 1 a.m. ET, polls are closing across Alaska, a state where 3 crucial electoral votes are up for grabs in the presidential election. The candidates vying for the presidency must secure a minimum of 270 electoral votes to claim victory.
Alaska has historically been considered a safe Republican state in presidential politics. Since becoming a state in 1959, it has predominantly supported Republican candidates, with only one exception. In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson secured a significant victory over Republican nominee Barry Goldwater, winning by nearly 31 percentage points in Alaska.
Notably, this election marks Alaska's inaugural use of ranked choice voting in a presidential race. Under this system, voters have the opportunity to rank up to four candidates in order of preference, introducing a new dynamic to the electoral process in the state.
