Chilkat Valley voters will cast ballots Tuesday in a statewide election that will decide the town’s representatives to the Alaska Legislature, and determine Alaska’s next governor, U.S. House representative and U.S. Senator.
In addition, voters will decide three statewide ballot questions. Polls at the American Bald Eagle Foundation and Klehini Valley Fire Hall will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Ballot Measure 2 proposes to legalize and commercialize marijuana use in Alaska.
Ballot Measure 3 proposes to raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.75 to $8.75 beginning Jan. 1, and from $8.75 to $9.75 on Jan. 1, 2016. The minimum wage would be adjusted for inflation every year after passage.
Ballot Measure 4, if passed, would give the legislature power to prohibit mining projects in Bristol Bay if legislators determined the activity would be harmful to wild salmon in the fishery. The measure is related to the debate on the proposed Pebble Mine.
Ballot Measure 1, on repealing the tax regime for Alaska’s oil producers, was rejected by voters during the August primary election.
Profiles of races, including of candidates who made campaign stops in Haines during the past year, can be found throughout this week’s paper. A story on the marijuana proposition is on page 5.