CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Former US Senator Joe Manchin publicly condemned recent moves by West Virginia lawmakers to ban ranked choice voting and potentially restrict independent voters from participating in primary elections, calling the developments "political gamesmanship."

Manchin, who left the Democratic Party last spring to register as an independent, posted a statement Tuesday on X (formerly Twitter), warning that West Virginia’s electoral system is “heading in the wrong direction.”

“Lawmakers just banned ranked choice voting—even though we’ve never used it,” he wrote.

“At the same time, they’re trying to shut out over 300,000 independent voters from participating in primary elections. That’s nearly 30% of West Virginia voters being told their voices don’t matter. This isn’t leadership—it’s political gamesmanship.”

Gov. Patrick Morrisey, a Republican and former Manchin rival in the 2018 Senate race, signed the ranked choice voting (RCV) ban into law in March. The measure passed with support in both chambers of the West Virginia Legislature.

As Manchin notes, the state has never implemented the alternative voting method.

Currently used statewide in Maine and Alaska, and in cities including San Francisco and New York City, RCV has become a target in conservative circles. Notably, RCV has also been used in several cities in Utah, which is considered a Republican stronghold.

Lawmakers Seek to Shut Down Electoral Reform

West Virginia law lets each of the two major political parties decide whether to open their primaries to independent voters. However, a bill introduced by state Sen. Eric Tarr (R) in 2025 seeks to prohibit all unaffiliated voters from participating in any party’s primary elections.

In January 2024, the state Republican Party voted to close its primaries starting in 2026. 

Manchin, who previously served as West Virginia's secretary of state and governor before his long tenure in the US Senate, said he opposed a similar effort by Democrats to close their primaries two decades ago. “It wasn’t right then, and it’s not right now,” he posted.

“Ranked choice voting gives voters more say and rewards candidates who appeal to a majority, not just a base,” Manchin added. “Banning it while trying to close primaries sends one clear message: some politicians don’t want to compete; they just want control.”

Manchin first voiced his support for RCV in an interview with Norah O’Donnell in November 2023. “Ranked choice voting: I never knew anything about that. So, I started looking at how that worked," he said.

"I’m thinking, if we can continue to keep people like Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, my friends — all these people who are just looking for the better cause of how you make something better for our country, then we should do it."

At the Milken Institute’s 2024 Global Conference, Manchin came out in support of open primaries:

“[Ranked choice voting and open primaries] give that person with the best ideas, the best character – the best quality of a human being you want to represent you in this democracy of ours – a chance."

Manchin has increasingly positioned himself as a critic of hyper-partisanship and a defender of independent and centrist voters. He has been involved with the bipartisan group No Labels for 14 years.

Manchin’s latest comments about RCV and open primaries reinforce his long-standing support for electoral reforms that bring people together, broaden voter participation, and reduce party control.