Elections

All elections stories. (These stories are also categorized as “politics”.)

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Alaska’s primary election turnout is on pace to be third-lowest in 50 years

Historical trends indicate the cause may be a boring ballot and a growing voter roll.
a man

Progressive drops out of West Anchorage state House race, leaving Democrat uncontested

Nick Moe had challenged Democrat Carolyn Hall for the House District 16 seat that was left vacant by Jennie Armstrong.
a woman holding a sign that says "Nancy Dahlstrom U.S. Congress"

Why are some Republican candidates quitting Alaska’s general election? Strategy.

With Republican voters reluctant to use ranked choice voting, candidates are seeking to avoid a split in the electorate.
A woman in a blazer smiles at the camera.

Nancy Dahlstrom drops out of Alaska’s U.S. House race

Dahlstrom announced the end of her candidacy after placing third in the primary, behind Democrat Mary Peltola and fellow Republican Nick Begich III.
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Matt Salisbury is the No. 4 candidate in Alaska’s U.S. House voting. Who is he?

After primary election day, Salisbury was in line to join Mary Peltola, Nick Begich and Nancy Dahlstrom in Alaska’s final four.
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Alaska Supreme Court upholds ranked choice repeal initiative, now bound for November vote

Ballot Measure 2 would end ranked choice voting and the state’s open primary election system.
stickers on a table

Progressive candidates show unusual strength in Alaska state legislative primaries

But amid near-record-low turnout, experts warn against drawing conclusions before the November general election.
voters

2 rural Alaska precincts fail to open for primary voting after workers don’t respond to state

In addition to the precincts that didn’t open, others opened roughly three hours late, around 10 a.m., officials said.
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It’s Peltola, Begich, Dahlstrom in U.S. House race

The primary prunes the candidates from a dozen to four. Frequent candidate Gerald Heikes gained name recognition from a negative ad campaign.
A woman with blonde hair in a yellow button-up shirt stands next to a voting machine smiling as a woman in a grey shirt with grey hair and glasses watches.

3 things to know about voting in Alaska’s primary election

Alaskans have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to vote in the primary. Here's what's on the ballot, how to vote, and when to expect results.
Bethel

Justice to monitor Alaska primary election for compliance with language requirements

The Department of Justice will have observers in certain rural areas to see if Indigenous language speakers are served properly.

Disagreements over bipartisanship fuel five-way race for Eagle River state Senate seat

Sen. Kelly Merrick says she joined a 17-member bipartisan Senate majority to get things done. Opponents say she betrayed conservative voters.
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Alaska elections officials plan to debut new ballot-tracking system with Aug. 20 primary

The system will allow the Division of Elections to track packages of ballots as they return to Juneau from remote locations.
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In America’s largest state House district, 6 people vie for a seat in the Alaska Legislature

The contest for Interior Alaska’s House District 36 has more candidates than any other legislative race this year.
images of three people

Peltola still holds fundraising cash advantage in U.S. House race, new figures show

In the past month, Democratic incumbent Mary Peltola has raised more money than her Republican competitors and has more cash on hand.
poll workers

Alaska’s pre-primary election turnout is down from extraordinary 2022 and 2020 primaries

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic emergency boosted absentee turnout to record highs, and in 2022, there was a special U.S. House election.
Pilot Station

Pilot Station city officials charged with felony election interference

Pilot Station acting mayor Arthur Heckman Sr. and city clerk Ruthie Borromeo each face eight counts of violating state election laws.
an early voting station

Mail delays postpone the start of pre-Election Day voting in parts of rural Alaska

Democrats expressed worries about the effect of a delay in early voting in some rural areas on Mary Peltola's campaign for U.S. House.
an early voting station

Early voting opens for Aug. 20 primary; mailed absentee application window closes this week

Under Alaska’s primary election system, all candidates for a particular office run together. The top four vote-getters advance to November.
the Alaska Supreme Court

After state judge keeps ranked choice repeal ballot measure, Alaska Supreme Court will weigh in

The Alaska Supreme Court is likely the last chance for opponents of the ranked choice voting repeal to prevent it from coming to a vote.