Some rural Alaska early-voting sites had not opened, prompting state officials to question why they remained closed
At least 18 villages in Alaska had early in-person voting locations that failed to open, according to a Friday letter to the Division of Elections from state Sen. Bill Wielechowski, an Anchorage Democrat. Wielechowski called the failures “shocking.” The division did not immediately respond to questions about this year’s voting issues.
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Early in-person voting locations failed to open in at least 18 Alaska villages, according to a Friday letter sent to the state Division of Elections by state Sen. Bill Wielechowski, an Anchorage Democrat. Wielechowski called the division’s failures “shocking.” The division, led by Carol Beecher, did not immediately respond to questions.
Early turnout is lowest in four districts where Alaska Native people make up a majority, across northern and Western Alaska. In the first three days of early voting, 27 ballots were cast in the Alaska Arctic district, 0.3% of registered voters. In the Juneau district, nearly 1,400 ballots represented more than 9% of eligible voters. Wielechowski helped craft a bipartisan election reform bill that would have required a rural liaison; Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed it.
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Verifier’s note
Both report that early in-person voting locations in rural Alaska villages failed to open, with Anchorage Daily News specifying at least 18 villages and describing a state senator’s inquiry to the Division of Elections. The reports are current and consistent with the proposed event.