Another local election, another low turnout in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. This time it was 14 percent.
But this election may be the end of that trend.
The ballot measure to move local elections to November appears to have passed.
Proposition 3 was favored with 5,590 votes to 5,157 opposed.
About 700 absentee ballots were still expected, but during Election night the measure remained ahead by several hundred votes.
“Mat-Su voters wisely decided that simplifying elections is the best way to increase voter turnout. This is so much smarter than what Anchorage did going to the mail-in ballot, which created more cost and confusion,” said Jeremy Price, Alaska Director with Americans for Prosperity.
Voters also approved Proposition 1, which will give the borough the powers to add a policing function to borough government.
In other Mat-Su news, Barb Doty was beat by Jesse Sumner for Mat-Su Borough Assembly Seat 6. He won with 947 votes to Doty’s 699, contrary to local media predictions.
Tam Boeve appears to have won Mat-Su Borough Assembly 7 over Dan Des, 861 to 558.
For Palmer City Council, Julie Berberich led the pack with 495 votes, while incumbent Pete LaFrance got 310, and Deputy Mayor Richard Best got 302 votes.
Must Read Alaska will return on Wednesday with more election results and will update this story.
