Elections

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

a 2022 Alaska ballot

Questions on minimum wage, paid sick leave and campaign funding could be heading to Alaska voters

Lt. Gov. Dahlstrom has until early September to certify whether three proposals will go to petition-gathering stage.
A man with glasses speaks behind a podium while standing in front of an American flag.

Complaint alleges foes of Alaska’s ranked choice voting formed a church to funnel political donations

The filing accuses Alaskans for Honest Elections, a political group opposed to ranked choice, of more than two dozen violations of campaign finance law.
a polling place

New ballot measure seeks to restrict spending on Alaska elections

Alaskans for Better Elections submitted a proposed ballot measure to the Alaska Division of Elections in early May.
a woman

Some GOP states depart, but Alaska will stay with voter fraud prevention network ERIC

The state will stay with the Electronic Registration Information Center, a network that helps states track registered voters and reduce fraud.
the Alaska Redistricting Board

Alaska Redistricting Board decides against attempting to redraw map again

The board's decision Monday likely means there won’t be any changes to the district lines used in last year’s election until 2032.
testimony against House Bill 4

Fans of Alaska’s ranked choice voting speak out against bill to repeal it

Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, says a poll shows a majority of Alaskans would repeal RCV. But public testimony in Juneau ran 3-to-1 against it.

Alaska Supreme Court reaffirms decision leaving 5th-place finisher off U.S. House ballot

Justices say the state made the right call when it decided not to advance Tara Sweeney to special election ballot.

After 5 years of mail-in ballots, Anchorage election officials say voter turnout has gone up

About 28% of registered Anchorage voters cast a ballot in the spring election. It’s the lowest voter turnout since the city moved to by-mail voting. But election officials say it’s still higher than in years before the change.
A group of people wave political signs on the sidewalk of a bust street.

A week after Anchorage election, most left-of-center Assembly candidates maintain their leads

City officials have counted about 54,000 of the 66,000 ballots they’ve received so far.
A graphic of a hand voting and the text: Alaska Public Media, Alaska At-Large

Missed an Alaska At-Large newsletter? Read them all here.

A round-up of our weekly elections newsletters, sent each Thursday.
Large white boxes that read "Vote by Mail Ballot Drop Box" sit in a warehouse.

Anchorage voters to decide on using marijuana taxes to fund early education, child care programs

Proposition 14 would specifically allocate Anchorage marijuana tax revenue to child care and early education initiatives.
Jamie Heinz inside Anchorage Election Center

Furor over mail-in voting fades as Anchorage prepares for April election

It peaked in 2021. Anchorage’s election administrator thinks increasing transparency around election operations has helped settle the public’s concerns.

Alaska leaders fly to D.C. to press for Willow project

The ConocoPhillips project is opposed by environmental advocates but supported by Alaska's political and business establishment.
a woman behind a microphone gives a thumbs up

Murkowski delivers ‘tough love’ address to Alaska Legislature

U.S. Sen. Murkowski urged legislators to have a vision, "think big" and not rely solely on federal money.
a woman at a podium

In homecoming address to state legislators, Peltola praises the ‘Alaska model’ of bipartisanship

Bipartisanship is U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola's motto, and her first address to the Alaska Legislature was on-brand.
A man with glasses energetically speaks behind a podium.

Launch of campaign to repeal ranked choice voting draws a crowd in Anchorage

A few hundred people met at a south Anchorage church Thursday night to kick off a signature drive aiming to get rid of ranked choice voting and go back to the way Alaska used to elect candidates.
a portrait of a woman wearing glasses and a vest

Alaska’s new elections director, a Trump donor, stays quiet on 2020 election fairness nationally

Carol Beecher doesn’t have elections experience, but Lt. Gov. Dahlstrom cites her administrative background, impartiality as reasons for the pick.
two people vote in voting booths inside

Republican supporter Carol Beecher tapped to lead the Alaska Division of Elections

Beecher succeeds Gail Fenumiai, who had a long career with the division and retired last year after administering Alaska’s first ranked choice elections.
a man outside with a sign that says Micciche Borough Mayor

Micciche has commanding lead in Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor’s race

Peter Micciche previously served as mayor of the City of Soldotna and was most recently president of the Alaska State Senate.
a woman in a white sweater

Kelly Tshibaka takes on a new opponent: Alaska ranked choice voting

Preserve Democracy, launched by Republican Kelly Tshibaka after her failed U.S. Senate bid, seeks to stop ranked choice voting in Alaska.