Early voting for the Nov. 3 election has begun. Tuesday, the first day for early voting in Haines, was busy with 77 residents stopping by the borough administration building to fill out ballots.
This year, the state is emphasizing early and absentee voting options in an effort to respond to COVID-19 concerns. Voters who do not wish to go to their polling place on election day have the option of requesting a by-mail ballot until Oct. 24 and an electronic transmission ballot until Nov. 2. All by-mail and electronic transmission ballots must be postmarked by election day in order to count.
On election day, Chilkat Valley residents will be able to cast ballots between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. at their respective polling place, the townsite ANB Hall, the Klehini Valley Fire Hall or the Klukwan ANS Hall, depending on their address.
All Chilkat Valley residents, regardless of address, have the option of voting early at the borough administration building Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The last day to vote early is Nov. 2.
Ballots will ask Haines voters to select a candidate for president, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative and State House Representative. It will also ask voters to decide on two ballot measures, one that would change the oil and gas tax structure for certain North Slope fields and another that would introduce open primaries, ranked choice voting and additional campaign finance reporting requirements to state elections. Sample ballots can be found on the state’s Division of Elections website.