This year’s Haines Borough election was marked by high voter turnout, increased early and absentee voting, an above-average number of write-in votes, and a fourth seat that’s too close to call.

At present, incumbent Brenda Josephson leads with 576 votes. Carol Tuynman received 566 votes and Helen Alten, 543. The Tuesday night results are still preliminary, with as many as 82 questioned and absentee ballots that could still count toward the final outcome. The ballots will be counted during the Oct. 13 canvass.

Voter turnout was 50% based on the 1,206 ballots counted on election night, the largest number in at least seven years.

Based on votes counted on Tuesday, Doug Olerud will serve as borough Mayor after beating incumbent Jan Hill, 760-422. Caitie Kirby, Cheryl D. Stickler and incumbent Jerry Lapp secured three of the four open seats on the assembly. Stickler received 683 votes, Lapp, 664 and Kirby, 657.

Once the remaining ballots have been reviewed, the two top vote-getters will serve three-year terms, and the other two elected to the assembly will serve one-year terms.

The outcome of the ballot proposition to draw $450,000 from the principal of the borough’s permanent fund is also too close to call. Currently, the “yes” votes lead 597-533.

Early and absentee voting is up slightly compared to past years, with 410 early ballots. Early and absentee voters differed from election-day voters in the candidates they favored. The majority of early voters cast ballots for Alten, Kirby and Tuynman, and voted “yes” on the ballot proposition while election-day voters favored Stickler, Lapp and Josephson and voted “no” on the proposition.

In interviews after the election, candidates thanked supporters and remarked on the high voter turnout.

“I’m kind of blown away. I’m just really grateful to everyone who voted for me. It’s a big job, and I’m really excited to get to work,” Kirby said.

“I’m really proud of the community for turning out so high,” Josephson said. “It’s telling me that the public’s waking up. We need to do this again in November, and we need to do it again in the future because democracy works much better when more people are involved.”

Lapp thanked his opponents, as well as both mayoral candidates, for their participation. “Thank you to everybody for running because that’s how we get concerned citizens on the assembly to make the best decisions for our community,” he said.

Alten and Tuynman, who remain in contention for the fourth seat, said they found running for the assembly to be a fruitful experience.

“I’m really glad I ran. I think running for the assembly is a really good way to solidify your values and what you believe in. In my case, it was a very positive experience,” Alten said. “I’m curious to see what the final eighty-two votes look like. I think (the results) show that people wanted change, and I’m really pleased to see that there will be quite a bit of change going on in our assembly.”

Tuynman said she’s thrilled by the preliminary results.

“I’m really excited about the outcome. This is a vote of affirmation for inclusivity and a wide variety of viewpoints. And I’m just thrilled that Caitie is elected. I hope her election encourages other young people to get involved in local government,” Tuynman said, adding that she will be happy, regardless of the outcome.

“I’m seventy-five years old. Do you think I really need to spend three years on the assembly?” Tuynman quipped. Even if she isn’t elected to the last open seat, she said plans to remain involved. “This campaign helped clarify for me the areas of government that need work.”

The 2020 borough election also saw an above-average number of write-in votes for the assembly race.

“I saw a lot of write-in votes that were for Doug Olerud and Debra Schnabel, and then a large variety of different people,” borough clerk and interim manager Alekka Fullerton said.

Olerud said he thinks the write-in votes he received were a reflection of support for Hill in the mayoral race.

“I was told that there was an email sent out either Sunday or Monday encouraging people to write me in for assembly because they wanted Jan to be mayor,” he said. “I appreciate all the support that I’ve received and am looking forward to getting to work.”

Hill did not respond for comment by presstime.

The election canvass will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 13 as part of the regular assembly meeting. The election results will be certified on Oct. 27.