From Seattletimes · · 1m 30s
Alaska ballots miss primary count due to mail delays
Seventy-five rural Alaska ballots arrived too late for primary count.
In brief
Seventy-five rural Alaska ballots arrived too late for primary count. Seventy-five absentee ballots from rural Alaska communities were rejected due to mail delivery delays, affecting voter participation. Originally reported by Seattletimes.
Ballots arrive too late
Seventy-five absentee in-person ballots cast by voters in rural western Alaska communities arrived too late to be counted in last month’s primary election.
Alaska division blames mail delay
The Alaska Division of Elections blamed a mail delivery delay affecting voters in seven communities, with Kotzebue, Igiugig and Naknek combining for 62 of the ballots.
Postal service rule change
The U.S. Postal Service finalized a rule stating postmarks don’t reflect the date the agency first took possession of mail but rather the day it was handled in a processing center.
Postal service response
A Postal Service spokesperson said any number of factors can affect mail delivery timeliness without being able to comment further on the specific delay.
Voter participation impact
Michelle Sparck, director of Get Out the Native Vote, said the 75 ballots represent a measurable loss in participation that can deepen voter apathy.
Rerouting ballots
The Division of Elections will reroute absentee in-person ballots from western Alaska to Anchorage to address mail delivery challenges.
Voter plans to monitor
Sallyann Hughes, a Naknek resident, plans to use electronic ballot delivery with witness signature and in-person postmark to ensure timely count.
What matters most
Seventy-five absentee ballots from rural Alaska communities were rejected due to mail delivery delays, affecting voter participation.
