Anchorage election participation sags to lowest level since before mail-in elections were implemented

Since the implementation of mail-in elections in Anchorage, voter turnout has steadily declined.

In the most recent April 1 municipal election, turnout dropped once again, with just 23,209 ballots cast — representing only 25.33% of registered voters.

The Anchorage Assembly adopted the mail-in and drop-box voting system in 2017 without putting the decision to a public vote. That year, turnout was 24%, with approximately 49,000 ballots cast out of an estimated 204,167 registered voters. The first mail-in election was held in 2018.

Here’s what turnout has looked like since the shift to mail-in voting in Alaska’s largest city:

Some spikes in voter turnout can be attributed to specific elections. In 2018, the race between mayoral candidates Ethan Berkowitz and Amy Demboski drew higher participation. In 2021, public frustration with the Berkowitz Administration’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic — as well as the Anchorage Assembly’s response — also drove more voters to the polls.

However, this year’s turnout barely surpassed levels seen before mail-in voting was adopted, raising further questions about the effectiveness of the system.

When the Assembly approved the mail-in voting model, it claimed the new approach would increase voter participation. So far, that promise has not been fulfilled in any remarkable way.

In addition to lower-than-expected turnout, the mail-in voting system has brought significantly higher costs for Anchorage taxpayers. The first vote-by-mail election in 2018 cost roughly $1 million — more than double the cost of traditional polling place elections. By comparison, the 2015 and 2016 mayoral elections cost about $451,000 each, while the 2017 election cost around $614,000.

The municipality also made a one-time investment of $1.2 million for equipment and infrastructure, including a high-tech mail sorter and upgrades to a new election headquarters. Ongoing expenses, such as printing, postage, and facility rental, continue to add to the overall cost.

The Anchorage Assembly is scheduled to certify the results of the April 1 regular election at its meeting on Tuesday, April 22, beginning at 5 pm in the Assembly Chambers at the Loussac Library.