The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly is set to hear public testimony on two ordinances during its regular meeting on June 12.
Ordinance 2025-10: Reforming Absentee Voting
This proposed ordinance makes several changes to the borough’s absentee voting process. It would require that absentee ballots be received by the day of the election, rather than up to a week afterward, as is currently allowed.
Because most absentee ballots in the borough are submitted via in-person early voting or through email, the shift in deadline will not meaningfully suppress voter turnout, but will help bolster the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring a more timely and secure vote count.
Additionally, the ordinance would prohibit exclusive vote-by-mail elections, thereby preserving in-person early voting and traditional polling place voting options. Another provision is a requirement that voters not only sign their absentee ballot envelopes but also print their names clearly alongside their signatures. This change would assist election officials in verifying ballots, as some signatures alone can be difficult to decipher.
Ordinance 2025-20-1A: Joy Community Center Funding
This ordinance addresses the fate of the Joy Community Center, which was defunded during the recent borough budget cycle. Funding previously allocated to the center was redirected to the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.
Now, a proposal is on the table to restore funding to keep Joy Community Center open. The building requires repairs and ongoing maintenance, raising concerns about the borough’s financial capacity to sustain it. The Parks and Recreation Department is advocating to keep the facility open, suggesting the department could move its offices from the Big Dipper Ice Arena to Joy. Some are warning that maintaining Joy could divert resources and programs from other borough facilities, including the Fairbanks Senior Center.
The Assembly’s discussion on these ordinances will take place at the Borough Assembly Chambers. These meetings are held at 6 pm in the Mona Lisa Drexler Assembly Chambers, 907 Terminal Street, Fairbanks. Citizens can attend in person, watch live online, or listen to broadcasts on KUAC Radio 89.9 FM. Members of the public can provide input by emailing [email protected], calling 907-459-1401 to sign up for testimony by phone or in person, or appearing at the meeting to testify.
