Alaska Voting Guide

Alaska holds several types of elections throughout the year, from federal races to school board seats. This article will answer questions about your voter eligibility, registration, absentee ballots, polling locations, required identification, accommodations, and what to do if you see illegal activity at the polls.

If you have questions about your voting rights or believe your rights have been violated, a civil rights attorney can help you understand your options.

Voting in Alaska

Alaskans have many opportunities to vote for their elected leaders. The State of Alaska holds the following types of elections:

• General elections (includes presidential and Congressional elections)
• Primary election (voting to select candidates to represent political parties in a general election)
• State elections (for statewide offices like the Alaska Senate and statewide ballot measures)
• Municipal elections
• Regional Educational Attendance Area (school board elections)

It’s common for multiple elections to occur on the same day.

Ranked Choice Voting

Alaska uses ranked-choice voting in its general elections. Voters rank their candidates, and the candidate with at least 51% of the vote wins the election. If no candidate wins during the first round of counting, election officials eliminate the last-place candidate from each subsequent round of counting. This process continues until a candidate achieves over 50% of the vote.

Your Rights as a Voter in Alaska

Alaska law protects your right to participate in the democratic process without interference. Alaska voters have the right to:

• Have freedom from intimidation: You have the right to vote without threats, coercion, or intimidation from candidates, political parties, employers, or other voters. State and federal laws prohibit voter intimidation.
• Ask questions: If you are unsure how to cast your ballot, you may ask a poll worker for assistance. Election officials must provide instructions on proper voting procedures.
• Request a replacement ballot: If you made a mistake while filling out an election ballot, you can request a replacement. Under the Alaska Division of Elections Poll Worker Manual, you may receive up to two replacement ballots.
• Bring written materials into the voting booth: Alaska law permits you to bring personal notes, reminders, or a pre-marked sample ballot for your reference. This is distinct from electioneering restrictions, which prohibit campaigning within 200 feet of a polling place entrance. These restrictions do not apply to your private reference materials.
• Time off from work: If your work schedule leaves you fewer than two consecutive hours to vote before or after your shift while polls are open, your employer must give you paid time off to vote. Employers who refuse to allow time off to vote face penalties.

You have a right to vote, and Alaskan law is designed to protect it.

Voting Choices

If you are a registered voter in Alaska, you have the following options to cast your vote:

• In-person
• In-person absentee
• Absentee voting

You must be registered to vote.

Where Do I Vote?

Voting locations in Alaska open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can search for your polling place on the Division of Elections website.

Am I Eligible to Vote in Alaska?

To vote in Alaska elections, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be at least 18 years of age or within 90 days of your 18th birthday
• Live in Alaska and your election district for at least 30 days before an election
• Register to vote on or before the registration deadline
• Not be registered to vote anywhere else

You cannot vote in Alaska elections if you have a felony conviction involving moral turpitude, and the State has not restored your voting rights.

When Is Alaska’s Voter Registration Deadline?

Alaska’s voter registration deadline is at least 30 days before an election.

Early Voting in Alaska

Alaska offers early in-person voting starting 15 days before Election Day at select locations in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Palmer, and Wasilla. Poll workers verify your eligibility in real time using the state’s voter registration database.

Other locations offer absentee in-person voting before Election Day. In this process, you complete your ballot and seal it in an envelope. An absentee ballot review board verifies your eligibility before opening and counting your ballot. When your ballot is counted depends on when you vote. Ballots cast through Thursday before Election Day are counted on Election Night. Ballots cast on Friday or Saturday before Election Day are counted seven days after Election Day.

You can find early voting and absentee in-person voting locations through the Alaska Division of Elections.

Absentee Voting in Alaska

Alaska offers no-excuse absentee voting, meaning you do not need a reason to request a ballot. You can receive your absentee ballot by mail, online delivery, or fax. If you are requesting a ballot by mail, your application must reach the Division of Elections at least 10 days before Election Day.

Witness Signature Requirement

Returning your absentee ballot by mail requires additional steps. You must sign the return envelope in front of a witness who is at least 18 years old, who must also sign. Include at least one identifier, such as your date of birth, Alaska driver’s license number, voter number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. The Alaska Division of Elections recommends that both you and your witness date your signatures.

Absentee ballots missing a voter’s or witness’s signature may be rejected. Double-check that all required fields are complete before returning your ballot.

What Do I Need To Bring to the Polls in Alaska?

You will need identification at your polling place, but it doesn’t need to be a photo ID. Acceptable forms of identification include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Voter ID card
• Driver’s license
• State ID
• Military ID
• U.S. Passport
• Hunting or fishing license
• Tribal identification
• Government check
• Bank statement
• Current utility bill

Other forms may also be accepted. Check with Alaska’s Division of Elections to be sure you have something that qualifies.

What If There’s a Problem With My ID or Registration?

If your name is not on the registration list or you cannot provide acceptable identification, don’t leave the polling place without voting. You still have the right to cast a ballot.

Election officials must tell you that you can cast a questioned ballot. This is Alaska‘s term for a provisional ballot. After Election Day, officials will review your ballot and, if they can verify your eligibility, count your vote. You can also check your ballot’s status after the election through the Alaska Division of Elections‘ website.

Are There Special Accommodations for Alaskan Voters?

Alaska’s polling places offer touch-screen voting and accessibility help for voters who need it. You may also designate someone besides the following people to help you vote:

• A political candidate
• An employer
• A representative for your employer or union

You can bring someone to help you, or a poll worker can assist you.

Are There Language Accommodations at the Polls?

Alaska provides language assistance to ensure all its citizens can cast a ballot. In addition to English-language ballots, Alaska offers ballots in the following languages:

• Yup’ik​
• Gwich’in​
• Iñupiaq
• Koyukon
• Siberian Yup’ik
• Aleut
• Tagalog
• Spanish

Language should not be a barrier to voting.

What Do I Do if I See Something Illegal at the Polls?

You should report any illegal activity you witness at your polling place. You can notify the Alaska Division of Elections if you:

• Witness a crime such as voter fraud or intimidation
• Believe an election official broke the law or abused their discretion
• Experienced a violation of the Help America Vote Act

Do not attempt to confront the alleged violator yourself. Speak to a poll worker or a member of law enforcement.

Electioneering Near the Polls

No person, including voters, candidates, or campaign workers, may attempt to persuade anyone to vote for or against a candidate, proposition, or question while inside a polling place or within 200 feet of any entrance to a polling place during polling hours. This includes distributing campaign materials, posting political signs, or circulating handbills within that zone. Violations may constitute campaign misconduct in the third degree.

Vote Buying and Selling

Alaska law prohibits offering, accepting, or soliciting anything of value in exchange for a vote. This includes giving or receiving money, gifts, or other benefits as inducements. Vote buying is a serious election crime and may be prosecuted under state and federal law.

How To Report Illegal Activity

If you witness or experience illegal activities at the polling stations, you can report to the following agencies:

Alaska Division of Elections

The Alaska Division of Elections handles reports of voter fraud, voter intimidation, election official misconduct, and violations of the Help America Vote Act. You can reach them at elections.alaska.gov or by calling your regional elections office.

FBI and U.S. Department of Justice

You can report federal election crimes, including voter intimidation, vote buying, and ballot tampering, to your local FBI field office or the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The FBI’s Public Corruption Unit investigates federal election offenses.

Protect Your Right To Vote: Consult Legal Advice

If you were turned away at the polls, experienced intimidation, or believe your vote was not counted, contact a civil rights attorney. They can help review what happened and explain whether your rights were violated under state or federal law. They can also review the legal remedies available to you and act as your legal representative.