# Alaska ballots miss primary count due to mail delays

> Seventy-five rural Alaska ballots arrived too late for primary count.
- Title: Alaska ballots miss primary count due to mail delays
- Summary: Seventy-five rural Alaska ballots arrived too late for primary count. Seventy-five absentee ballots from rural Alaska communities were rejected due to mail…
- Keywords: alaska, ballot, mail delivery, primary election, rural communities, vote by mail, seattle times, news, local, ballots, miss, primary
- Source: Seattletimes — https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/state-blames-mail-delivery-issues-for-dozens-of-ballots-from-rural-alaska-not-counting-in-primary
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: alaska, ballot, mail delivery, primary election, rural communities, vote by mail, seattle times, news, local
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Seventy-five absentee ballots from rural Alaska communities were rejected due to mail delivery delays, affecting voter participation.