Alaska's ballot journey: why the Senate race is still uncalled

Alaska's ballots travel by plane

Alaska Seaplanes carries ballots alongside passengers, medicine and supplies across America's largest state, which is connected mainly by water and air rather than roads.

The Senate race remains uncalled

A week after most US states knew their midterm results, Alaska is still waiting for the Senate race between incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan and Democratic challenger Mary Peltola to be called.

Results expected November 18

Officials expect to have counted all eligible ballots by November 18, when they will declare a winner for the Senate race, governor and US House of Representatives.

Mail ballots can arrive late

Mail ballots are allowed to arrive up to ten days after election day, or fifteen days for overseas voters, if postmarked by election day. This creates a delay in the full picture emerging.

Remote villages run their own elections

In smaller or more remote parts of Alaska, someone is basically running the election for their family and neighbours because the village is so small. Ballots are sealed and sent through the mail.

“you get someone who's basically running the election for their family and their neighbours because it's such a small village”

All ballots go to Juneau for counting

All in-person and absentee mail ballots eventually reach Juneau, the state capital only reachable by plane or boat, where election officials complete their review and scanning.

Ranked-choice voting may be needed

If no candidate gets more than fifty percent of the vote in the first round, officials will use ranked-choice voting to reallocate votes from the lowest-scoring candidates to their voters' second choices.

Trump alleges election was rigged

President Donald Trump alleged Alaska's Senate election had been rigged due to another Republican candidate named Dan Sullivan allegedly recruited by Democratic operatives. His administration is appealing a rejected lawsuit to halt certification.