Bethel officials consider vote-by-mail

BETHEL — The city of Bethel is looking into replacing going to the polls with voting by mail as a way to increase voter turnout, which has remained less than 25 percent over the past four years.

Mail-in ballots could help make voting more popular, Councilman Chuck Herman said.

Herman, who introduced the proposal Tuesday, said sending ballots a month before the election would give voters time to research key issues and could eliminate costs associated with running polling stations, KYUK-AM reported.

But Herman’s proposal drew criticism from council member Leif Albertson, who said Bethel’s current voting system does not disenfranchise voters.

Mayor Rick Robb also spoke out against the measure, saying the city already has a process that allows residents to vote early in addition to voting at the polls. He argued against changing a system that he personally likes.

“I personally enjoy the great American tradition of going to the polls on Tuesday’s,” Robb said. “I personally think it’s one of the great benefits of democracy, and by going to the polls, it gives interested people the opportunity to go and demonstrate their democratic rights.”

While some people may enjoy voting at the polls, Herman said, the issue is that most people are not voting at all and allowing residents to vote by mail could help change that.

“I think this would go a long way towards getting more involvement from our community, and I think with more community involvement we have more community buy-in; we have better governance; we have better understanding of governance; and I think we’ll have a better local government and community,” Herman said.

The City Council voted to have City Clerk Lori Strickler conduct further research on the matter and present her findings in May.

More in News

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October of 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Ships in port for t​​he Week of April 22

Here’s what to expect this week.

The exterior of Floyd Dryden Middle School on Tuesday, April 2. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
CBJ seeking proposals for future use of Marie Drake Building, Floyd Dryden Middle School

Applications for use of space in buildings being vacated by school district accepted until May 20.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, April 23, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and Speaker of the House Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, speak to legislators during a break in the March 12 joint session of the Alaska House and Senate. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Senate plans fast action on correspondence problem, but House is ‘fundamentally divided’

State judge considering delay in ruling striking down program used by more than 22,000 students.

A view of the downtown Juneau waterfront published in Blueprint Downtown, which outlines an extensive range of proposed actions for the area’s future. (Pat McGonagel/City and Borough of Juneau)
Long-term blueprint for downtown Juneau sent to Assembly after six years of work

Plan making broad and detailed proposals about all aspects of area gets OK from Planning Commission.

Public safety officials and supporters hold signs during a protest at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday afternoon calling for the restoration of state employee pensions. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Protest at Capitol by police, firefighters calls for House to pass stalled pension bill for state employees

Advocates say legislation is vital to solving retention and hiring woes in public safety jobs.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, April 22, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, turns to listen to a proposed amendment to the state budget on Monday, April 3, 2023, at the Alaska State Capitol. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska House panel removes proposal to raise the state’s age of sexual consent to 18

Rep. Andrew Gray, author of the idea, says he will introduce a revised and updated version.

Most Read