In Alaska, state and local governments are emphasizing absentee voting in this year’s elections to protect public health, starting with the Aug. 18 statewide primary.
Sunday, July 19, is the deadline to register to vote in the primary election. The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the primary is Aug. 8. Those who submit absentee applications will receive their ballots in the mail and must get them postmarked by Aug. 18 for the vote to count.
For the first time this year, the state Division of Elections will automatically mail absentee ballot applications to all registered voters over age 65, making it easier for the coronavirus at-risk population to avoid polling places on election day.
For voters under age 65, the Division of Elections announced in June that Alaskans with a driver’s license or other state-issued identification can request an absentee ballot through an online form on the division’s website. Or voters can apply by printing the application from the website or by contacting the division to request the form, and then mailing, faxing or emailing the completed application to the division.
Before lawmakers left Juneau in March, they passed a bill allowing the lieutenant governor to order statewide elections by mail this year if necessary to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer has declined that invitation, announcing the primary will be held “in the traditional manner,” which allows three choices: Vote in person, vote early at designated polling places, or request an absentee ballot.
Meyer has so far rejected requests that the state mail absentee ballot applications to all registered voters.
Chilkat Valley polling places are the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall, Klehini Valley firehall and the Klukwan ANS Hall. Voters can look up their specific polling place on the division’s website.
Division of Elections director Gail Fenumiai said the division will implement Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and state health mandates at all polling places. This will include limiting the number of people in the building at any one time, enforcing six-foot spacing between people, disinfecting surfaces regularly, requiring poll workers to wear masks and encouraging voters to wear face coverings as well. The division will provide masks and gloves for voters.
Fenumiai said the division will increase its public messaging about early and absentee voting to avoid lines on election day.
For now, the plan is to hold the Nov. 3 statewide general election in the same manner as the primary, according to Meyer, although this could change depending on what the COVID-19 infection rate looks like closer to November.
The Oct. 6 Haines municipal election will likely resemble the state’s setup — status quo voting options with emphasis placed on absentee voting, borough clerk and interim manager Alekka Fullerton said. This model was employed by Valdez when it held its local election May 5.
Under Haines Borough code, voters have the option of submitting absentee ballots by mail, email, fax, in-person or through a personal representative as well as voting in-person on election day. Fullerton said she would like to preserve a way for people to vote at the polls on election day through implementing social-distancing measures such as one-way entry and exit, and limiting the number of people inside the building.
Voters can apply for an absentee ballot by completing forms available on the borough website and at the borough administration building.
Other Alaska municipalities are moving forward with plans to conduct elections solely by mail this year, a costlier option than in-person elections. Juneau’s assembly approved a motion to hold by-mail elections. Petersburg passed an ordinance allowing for a by-mail election at the discretion of its assembly. Anchorage has been holding its elections by mail since April 2018.
The Chatham School District, which includes Klukwan, will hold its school board election Oct. 6.