Alaska’s two ‘Dan Sullivans’: How common is ballot stacking, does it work?

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that Alaska’s US Senate ballot has become the center of a dispute over “ballot stacking,” after a second candidate named Dan Sullivan entered the race against incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. The article says the controversy erupted after reporting by The New York Times alleged that people linked to Democratic challenger Mary Peltola tried to encourage candidates with similar names to enter the contest, potentially confusing voters and splitting support for the incumbent. Peltola has denied knowing about any such effort, while the second Dan Sullivan has also denied being part of a Democratic plan.

The issue has drawn in state and federal officials. US President Donald Trump ordered a Justice Department investigation, and Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy opened a criminal probe. A US attorney also described the matter as a serious alleged conspiracy. The Senate race is viewed as important because control of the chamber is at stake.

Al Jazeera explains that ballot stacking is not common, but examples exist. In Florida’s 2020 state Senate race, a namesake candidate reportedly pulled votes away from a Democrat in a contest decided by a very narrow margin. Similar tactics have appeared in Washington state and in some historical US cases, while the article notes the practice is also seen in other countries, including India. The broader point is that the tactic can sometimes affect close races, though it does not always succeed.