The Alaska Division of Elections says that some absentee voting locations around the state have had supplies delayed in the mail system, and are not yet able to assist voters. That means that voters cannot vote in some locations. These are likely to be rural areas, although Must Read Alaska is checking. Early voting started on Monday in Alaska for the Aug. 20 primary elections.
“For additional options please contact the Absentee & Petition office at 907-270-2700. We will update again when we have more information,” the Division wrote on X/Twitter.
On Tuesday, early voting at the State Office Building in Juneau was not available. Voting was taking place at the Mendenhall Mall location until later in the day, when voting could resume at the State Office Building.
Ballots were unavailable in Bethel earlier this week but are available now at the ONC Building. It appears to be a problem across rural communities. Longtime election observers say they have heard of this happening before.
As of Monday, 1,375 primary absentee-by-mail ballots had been cast and returned to the Division of Elections. Must Read Alaska was not able to get the early vote total but will update this story if more facts become known.
Meanwhile, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, is the deadline to apply for an Absentee by-mail ballot for the primary election. The absentee and petition office will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The 2024 Primary Election sample ballots are now available for viewing at the Division of Elections.
This story will be updated.
The election dates have been known for how long?
Is the division of elections deliberately trying to make us distrust the process?
I’ve worked elections in Alaska for 6 years. That’s all it took for me to distrust it. I remember when polling places ran out of ballots for voters.
Nancy Dahlstrom had one job and she decided she didn’t want to do it.
Exactly!
Yep. Must be nice to get paid big money to NOT do your job. Hey, don’t we pay her salary?
One vote per verified person on election day. Period, without valid, verified absentee application.
I believe that this administration has dropped the ball when it comes to our elections. The voter rolls need updating and the electronic machines need to be discarded.
dunleavy-dahlstrom administration doesn’t care about voting transparency or integrity.
the only thing they care about is advancing their own political careers.
Hey Nancy! How about doing your job instead of running around campaigning? I thought you wanted to be Lt. Governor???
Whose job is this?
The democrats.
We have never had so many voting problems with the old way and we had common sense people running the show.
All we have now is Incompetence at all levels of government.
this was Lieutenant Governor, Nancy Dahlstrom’s job. Her and division of elections should have had a plan to get ballots to rural alaska.
she’s too busy running for congress right now to focus on the job the governor hand picked her for.
Exceedingly poor management from the Division of Elections and the Dunleavy-Dahlstrom administration. And, my, oh my, Dahlstrom wants to be the elected Congresswoman. She needs to be graded on poor performance for this problem effecting the whole state. I know she doesn’t get my vote but more than that, she shouldn’t have yours.
I am still trying to figure out how it is legal or ethical for her to be running as a candidate in an election that she is overseeing. Have not we already seen this in Arizona with Katie Hobbs?
So, the AK State Division of Elections is blaming the mail for late material delivery.
But… I thought the USPS was a perfectly safe and secure way to send your ballot back.
.
Anyone who thinks vote by mail is a good idea should read this.
so many things aren’t adding up.
how is it that division of elections, lt gov office and gov office couldn’t come up with a plan to get ballots to rural alaska in a timely manner?
dahlstrom has neglected to do the job she signed up for and dunleavy has encouraged and supported her. so disappointing.
Down here in Ketchikan last week, Nancy Dahlstrom said she would rather be in Hawaii right now. Maybe time to see if she is even in state.
Did she head to Hawaii for a break? She looked tired, worn out and defeated.
The Lt Governor has had ample opportunity to secure our elections. Or at minimum participate in making them safer. This smacks of willful neglect. I’m over this crap. If you can do what’s right for the electoral process how do I tend to do so for congress as our sole representative? I feel like we’re living in the upside down!
You gotta love the efficiency of Goverment.
Nancy, you’ve proven for a Alaska why you should take your social security check and retire.
The Dunleavy Administration failing Alaskans once again!
Vote early and often, the results will just be late. And if you need more ballots, no hey problema.
I thought we were to trust the USPS with 10000% certainty to handle our ballots.
Isn’t it odd the US is the ONLY country in the world that allows for mail-in voting vs one-day, in person voting?
More of the Dunleavy/Dalhstrom administration that can’t just do the basics. They both need to go.