Election administration in Alaska

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Election Information
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times
Time off work for voting
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Election administration encompasses a state's voting policies, procedures, and enforcement. These include voter identification requirements, early and absentee/mail-in voting provisions, voter list maintenance methods, and more. Each state's voting policies dictate who can vote and under what conditions.

Below, you will find details on the following election administration topics in Alaska:

Poll times

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In Alaska, polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. Alaska is divided between the Alaska time zone and the Hawaii-Aleutian time zone. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.^[2][3]

Voter registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Alaska, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Alaska, and at least 18 years of age or within 90 days of their 18th birthday. An individual convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude may not register to vote until their voting rights have been restored. If registered to vote in another state, applicants must be willing to cancel that registration in order to vote in Alaska. To vote in Alaska, registered voters must be at least 18 years old and have been a resident of the state and election district for at least 30 days.^[4]

Prospective voters can register online, with a paper form, or in person at a Division of Elections Office or a voter registration agency.^[5] The deadline to register or make changes to a registration is 30 days before an election.^[6]

If submitting an application form by mail, fax, or email, the applicant must provide one of the following forms of identification either with his or her application or when voting for the first time:^[6]

Automatic registration

Alaska automatically registers eligible individuals to vote when they apply for a Permanent Fund Dividend, unless they opt out.^[8]

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Alaska has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Alaska allows same-day voter registration in presidential election years, but voters who do so can vote only for the offices of president and vice president.^[9]

Residency requirements

Alaska law requires 30 days of residency in the state and election district before a person may vote.^[10]

According to the Division of Elections' website, "you are considered an Alaska resident if you reside in the state and intend to remain a resident or, if you temporarily leave the state, you have intention to return (Active military members, spouses or dependents are exempt from the intent to return requirement)."^[4]

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Alaska does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.^[11] As of November 2024, five states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site My Voter Information, run by the Alaska Department of Elections, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy

Early voting

See also: Early voting

Alaska permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.

Absentee/mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee/by-mail in Alaska. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee/by-mail.^[12]

If a voter is already registered to vote, an absentee ballot application must be received by elections officials at least 10 days prior to the election. If a voter has not yet registered to vote, or needs to update voter registration information, an absentee/mail-in ballot application must be received at least 30 days before the election.^[12]

Returning absentee/mail-in ballots

See also: Mail ballot collection and return laws by state

Alaska voters can return their absentee/mail-in ballots by mail or in-person at absentee in-person and early voting locations.^[12] Ballots must be postmarked on or before election day. Except during a recount, ballots received by mail after the close of business on the 10th day after the election will not be counted.^[12]

As of November 2024, 20 states allowed anyone chosen by the voter to return a ballot on the voter's behalf, with certain exceptions, while 16 states allowed anyone with certain relationships to the voter to return the voter's ballot. Four states allowed only the voter to return the voter's ballot, with certain exceptions, and two states required voters to return their ballots by mail. Eight states and D.C. did not specify who may return ballots.

Signature requirements and cure provisions

In Alaska, submitted absentee/mail-in ballots must include 1) the voter’s handwritten signature and 2) the signature of a witness over the age of 18 or an official qualified to administer oaths. Both signatures must be dated.^[12]

Alaska does not have a cure provision, or a law providing for a process where election officials follow up with voters whose absentee/mail-in ballots contain a signature discrepancy or lack the requisite signatures.^[12][13]

Alaska law states the following:

As of November 2024, 33 states had laws that included cure provisions, while 17 states did not. One state, Pennsylvania, allowed counties to establish a cure process.

Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?

Voters can use the My Voter Information website provided by the Alaska Division of Elections to check the status of their absentee/mail-in application and ballot as well as their voter registration status and polling place location.

Voter identification requirements

See also: Voter ID in Alaska

See also: Voter identification laws by state

Alaska requires voters to present non-photo identification while voting.^[14][15]

The following were accepted forms of identification as of July 2024. Click here for the Alaska Division of Elections' page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

• Voter ID card
• Driver’s license
• State ID
• Other photo ID
• Passport
• Hunting or fishing license
• If you do not have the one of the identifications listed above, you may present a current utility bill or paycheck, government check or bank statement or other government issued document. These documents must have your current residence address.^[15]

As of April 2024, 35 states required voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 24 required voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 11 accepted other forms of identification. The remaining 16 states did not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day.

Valid forms of identification differ by state. In certain states that require voters to provide identification, there may be exceptions that allow some voters to cast a ballot without providing an ID. To see more about these exceptions, see details by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards.

Provisional balloting for voters without ID

Voters who do not have ID while voting may cast questioned ballots, also known as provisional ballots. See below for provisional ballot rules.

Provisional ballot rules

Alaska refers to provisional ballots as questioned ballots. Voters in Alaska are given questioned ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, under the following circumstances.^[15]

(1) The individual's name does not appear on the precinct registration list.^[16]

(2) The individual's address has changed.

(3) The individual does not present required identification.

(4) The individual already voted.

(5) An observer challenges the individual's qualifications to vote.

Voters are given a questioned ballot envelope on which to include information along with their voted questioned ballot. A review board then determines, based on the information provided, whether the ballot is counted. The voter will receive a letter informing them if their ballot was rejected or partially counted.^[15]

Local election officials

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Primary election type

See also: Primary elections in Alaska

Alaska uses a top-four primary for congressional and state-level offices. Under Alaska's top-four primary system, all candidates for a given office run in a single primary election. The top four vote-getters, regardless of partisan affiliation, then advance to the general election.^[17][18]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Time off work for voting

In Alaska, employers commit an offense unless they satisfy specific requirements for allowing time off work to vote:

As of September 2024, 28 states required employers to grant employees time off to vote. Within these 28 states, policies varied as to whether that time off must be paid and how much notice must be given.

Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

In Alaska, voting rights for people convicted of a felony "involving moral turpitude" are restored automatically upon completion of their sentence, including parole or probation.^[20]

According to state law, "A person convicted of a crime that constitutes a felony involving moral turpitude under state or federal law may not vote in a state, federal, or municipal election from the date of the conviction through the date of the unconditional discharge of the person. Upon the unconditional discharge, the person may register under AS 15.07."^[21]

People convicted of a felony who have served their sentence to completion must submit proof of their unconditional discharge to the Division of Elections so that they may register to vote.^[20]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.^[22]

Voter list maintenance

All states have rules under which they maintain voter rolls—or, check and remove certain names from their lists of registered voters. Most states are subject to the parameters set by The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).^[23] The NVRA requires states to make efforts to remove deceased individuals and individuals who have become ineligible due to a change of address. It prohibits removing registrants from voter lists within 90 days of a federal election due to change of address unless a registrant has requested to be removed, or from removing people from voter lists solely because they have not voted. The NVRA says that states may remove names from their registration lists under certain other circumstances and that their methods for removing names must be uniform and nondiscriminatory.^[24]

When names can be removed from the voter list

At least once a year, the state Director of Elections will remove from the voter list individuals who:^[25][26]

• are deceased,
• have not voted in the any election in the preceding four years, and a notice requesting address confirmation, as required by Sec. 15.07.130.(a) of Alaska law, was returned as undeliverable,
• have been convicted of certain felony offenses.

Inactive voter list rules

Alaska law requires the state Director of Elections to review the official voter registration list no less than once per year. The Director is to send a notice requesting confirmation of address to each voter:^[25]

• whose mail from the Division of Elections has been returned to sender within the past two years,
• who has not contacted the Division within the past two years, or
• who has not voted in the two general elections preceding the review of the registration list.

If a voter on the official voter registration list has not contacted the Division within the past four years and has not voted in an election within the past four years, and a notice requesting confirmation of address has been returned as undeliverable, the Division is to send a notice to the voter’s last known address that their registration will be inactivated unless they respond within 45 days.^[25]

The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)

See also: Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)

According to its website, ERIC is a nonprofit corporation that is governed by a board of member-states. These member states submit voter registration and motor vehicle registration information to ERIC. ERIC uses this information, as well as Social Security death records and other sources, to provide member states with reports showing voters who have moved within their state, moved out of their state, died, have duplicate registrations in their state, or are potentially eligible to vote but are not yet registered. ERIC's website describes its funding as follows: "Members fund ERIC. New members pay a one-time membership fee of $25,000, which is reserved for technology upgrades and other unanticipated expenses. Members also pay annual dues. Annual dues cover operating costs and are based, in part, on the citizen voting age population in each state."^[27]

By 2022, 33 states and the District of Columbia had joined ERIC. As of May 2024, 24 states and the District of Columbia were members in the ERIC program.^[28]

As of July 2024, Alaska was a participating member in the ERIC program.

Post-election auditing

Alaska state law requires post-election audits. Local election officials, members of the Alaska State Review Board, and the state election director conduct the audit by randomly selecting "a precinct from each house district that accounts for at least 5% of ballots cast in that district." If discrepancies of more than 1 percent are found, the state election director hand counts all the ballots from that precinct. When the counting is complete, the "director certifies in writing and publishes online any changes resulting from this count." The audit must be completed no later than 16 days after the election.^[29]

Post-election audits check that election results tallied by a state's voting system match results from paper records, such as paper ballots filled out by voters or the paper records produced by electronic voting machines. Post-election audits are classified into two categories: audits of election results—which include traditional post-election audits as well as risk-limiting audits—and procedural audits.^[30][31]

Typically, traditional post-election audits are done by recounting a portion of ballots, either electronically or by hand, and comparing the results to those produced by the state's voting system. In contrast, risk-limiting audits use statistical methods to compare a random sample of votes cast to election results instead of reviewing every ballot. The scope of procedural audits varies by state, but they typically include a systematic review of voting equipment, performance of the voting system, vote totals, duties of election officials and workers, ballot chain of custody, and more.

As of October 2024, 49 states and the District of Columbia had some form of post-election audit by law. Of these, 35 states and the District of Columbia required traditional post-election audits, while six states required risk-limiting post-election audits by law. Eight states used some other form of post-election audit, including procedural post-election audits.^[32][33]

Election policy ballot measures

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of Alaska ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in Alaska.

1. Alaska Ballot Measure 1, Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (August 2002)
2. Alaska Clean Elections, Measure 3 (August 2008)
3. Alaska Replacement of U.S. Senators Initiative, Measure 4 (2004)
4. Alaska Campaign Finance Reform Initiative, Measure 1 (August 2006)
5. Alaska Residence Requirement to Vote for President, SJR 1 (August 1966)
6. Alaska Votes on Constitutional Amendments, Amendment 1 (August 1974)
7. Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting and Campaign Finance Laws Initiative (2020)
8. Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Repeal Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)
9. Alaska Campaign Contribution Limits Initiative (2026)

Recent legislation related to election administration in Alaska

The table below lists bills related to election administration that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Alaska. The following information is included for each bill:

• State
• Bill number
• Official name or caption
• Most recent action date
• Legislative status
• Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. The table displays up to 100 results by default. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker

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The Ballot Bulletin

The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

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Ballot access

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Alaska

A cardboard ballot box at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History

In order to get on the ballot in Alaska, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Alaska. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

Redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Alaska

"Gerrymandering"

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Alaska's single United States Representative and 60 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.^{[34][35][36][37]}

Alaska was apportioned one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census.

Alaska was apportioned one single at-large U.S. House seat, making Congressional redistricting after the 2020 census unnecessary.

Alaska completed its state legislative redistricting on May 24, 2022, when the Alaska Redistricting Board adopted a new map of state Senate districts at the direction of the state supreme court. In its ruling, the Alaska Supreme Court upheld a May 16, 2022, decision by the Third District of Alaska's Superior Court that determined that the mapping of state House districts to Senate ones was unconstitutional and ordered the Alaska Redistricting Board to adopt another proposed plan for pairing the districts. Click here to read more about litigation surrounding Alaska's legislative boundaries. These maps took effect for Alaska's 2022 legislative elections.

Alaska had initially enacted legislative district boundaries on November 10, 2021, following a 3-2 vote by the Alaska Redistricting Board. The three Republican-appointed board members voted in favor of the map and the two nonpartisan board members voted against it.^[38] On March 25, 2022, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that one state House and one state Senate district did not comply with the state constitution and required they be redrawn.^[39] The Alaska Redistricting Board adopted new legislative district boundaries to comply with the state supreme court's ruling on April 13, 2022.^[40]

Click here for more information on maps enacted after the 2020 census.

State process

See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures

Because Alaska has only one congressional district, congressional redistricting is not necessary. A non-politician commission draws state legislative district lines. In place since 1998, Alaska's redistricting commission comprises five members. Two commissioners are appointed by the governor, one by the state Senate majority leader, one by the state House majority leader, and one by the chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court. State law mandates that commissioners "be chosen without regard to party affiliation." One commissioner must be selected from each of the state's judicial districts.^[41]

The Alaska Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. Furthermore, every state legislative district must contain a "relatively integrated socio-economic area." Each state legislative district is served by one state senator and two state representatives.^[41]

Election administration agencies

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Alaska can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Alaska Regional Elections Offices

Click here for a list

Alaska Division of Elections

Physical Address: Court Plaza Building

240 Main Street, 4th Floor

Juneau, Alaska 99801

Mailing address: PO Box 110017

Juneau, Alaska 99811-0017

Phone: 907-465-4611

Toll free: 866-952-8683

Fax: 907-465-3203

Email: elections@alaska.gov

Website: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/

Alaska Political Offices Commission

2221 E. Northern Lights, Room 128

Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4149

Phone: 907-276-4176

Toll free: 1-800-478-4176

Fax: 907-276-7018

Email: apoc@alaska.gov

Website: http://doa.alaska.gov/apoc/

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 301-563-3919

Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov

Website: https://www.eac.gov

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See also

• State of Election Administration Legislation 2024 Year-End Report
• Voting in Alaska
• Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Alaska
• Redistricting in Alaska

Elections in Alaska

• Alaska elections, 2025
• Alaska elections, 2024
• Alaska elections, 2023
• Alaska elections, 2022
• Alaska elections, 2021
• Alaska elections, 2020
• Alaska elections, 2019
• Alaska elections, 2018
• Alaska elections, 2017
• Alaska elections, 2016
• Alaska elections, 2015
• Alaska elections, 2014

External links

• Alaska Division of Elections

Footnotes

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