By REP. SARAH VANCE
In 2020, Alaska’s lieutenant governor and the Division of Elections assured the public that the state’s election was one of the most secure in its history.
However, soon after these claims were made, we learned that the personal data of 113,000 Alaskans — roughly 19% of voters — was breached in August of 2020 and circulated on the dark web. This revelation was a severe blow to public trust and has raised ongoing concerns about the security of our electoral system.
That same year, Ballot Measure 2, which introduced ranked choice voting to Alaska, passed by a razor-thin margin—less than 1%.
Since then, the issue of ranked-choice voting has not gone away. This year, we find ourselves again in a presidential election cycle, with Ballot Measure 2 now on the ballot to repeal RCV, and it’s likely to be determined by another incredibly narrow margin.
So, let’s ask the tough questions: What impact did that data breach have on the 2020 election? And what about the current election, which has yet to be certified and will be finalized on Nov, 30?
We know that millions of dollars from outside groups, particularly from Washington D.C., were funneled into Alaska in 2020 and 2024 to influence the outcome of RCV. If millions of dollars were spent on advertising and pushing a specific agenda, isn’t it reasonable to ask whether those same outside forces might use the personal data circulating on the dark web to influence how people vote or manipulate the results?
Whether through social media manipulation, voter suppression, or other means, personal data can be a powerful tool for those with the resources to exploit it. If we’re being honest, these are uncomfortable questions that must be addressed.
As your State House representative, I’ve taken action. Last week, I sent a letter to the Alaska Division of Elections requesting a comprehensive audit of the ballots cast by the 113,000 Alaskans whose data was compromised in 2020. We need to know—were their votes manipulated, tampered with, or influenced by outside actors using this compromised data? Without a transparent, independent audit of these ballots, how can we trust the outcome of this election pending certification this November?
The situation is particularly troubling given Alaska’s history of tight elections. In a state where mere percentage points often decide elections, it wouldn’t take much for a small group with the right resources to influence or skew the results. The 1% margin by which Ballot Measure 2 passed in 2020 and the likelihood that the current election will be similarly close make this even more concerning.
Here’s the real question: How can we trust the outcome of any election in Alaska if we don’t address the potential for outside influence and data manipulation? Whether we’re talking about the 2020 election or the current one, we must demand accountability. The breach of personal data is just one part of the problem. The real question is whether those with vested interests have weaponized that data to influence the people’s will. This is an urgent issue that requires immediate attention and action from all of us.
We can debate whether we should hand-count ballots or use tabulators all day, but those are surface-level issues. The deeper problem is this: If our data can be accessed and misused, how can we be sure that our votes are genuinely our own? Without answers, we risk compromising the very foundation of our democratic process.
I believe that an audit of the 2024 election, specifically focusing on the ballots cast by the 113,000 Alaskans whose data was breached, is necessary. Until we know that their votes were not tampered with or influenced by bad actors, how can we be confident in future elections?
Let me be clear: What I’m calling for is transparency. I want the truth. Before any election outcome is certified, especially given the close margins and ongoing concerns, we need to ensure that the integrity of the process has not been compromised.
If no one asks these questions, we will never receive the answers we deserve. Without those answers, the integrity of our elections remains in jeopardy, and we will not be able to restore Alaskan’s faith in our election system.
Representative Sarah Vance of House District 6 is the current Chair of House Judiciary Committee and has sponsored several election integrity bills as a champion to provide accountability and reform.
