Alaskans, like all Americans, enjoy the privilege to participate in political decisions and determine their own local, state, and national leadership. This privilege not only invests the people with power but also requires public responsibility. People’s choice of local leadership impacts their individual lives the most of any type of election. However, many Alaskans seem unwilling to cast their votes in local elections. Palmer is a significant example.
According to Palmer’s 2025 unofficial election results, the people chose left-leaning former mayor Jim Cooper to lead their city. There are 5,114 registered voters in Palmer. Only 367 voiced their will. 92.82% of Palmer’s registered voters willingly abdicated their right and responsibility to the remaining 7.18%. In other words, the majority of registered voters in Palmer opted for an oligarchical structure where the few voice their will in government, and the many consent to the few.
Palmer’s dismal election turnout is far from unique among Alaska’s cities. Even cities with the highest voter turnouts reflect a similar oligarchical attitude. Haines Borough comes in with one of the highest voter turnouts at 45%. Still, over half of Haines’ registered voters seem willing to trust a minority of voters with some of the most important political decisions for the city.
In comparison, 55.8% of all registered Alaskan voters voiced their will in the 2024 national election. But only 44.38% of Alaskan voters spoke up in the 2022 statewide election. The majority of Alaskans recognize the need to exercise their right to vote when it comes to deciding national leadership. But state and local leadership? The majority’s refusal to vote democratically sanctions rule by the minority.
Natalie Spaulding, a 2025 Hillsdale college graduate, recently joined the Must Read Alaska team.
