JUNEAU — A lawsuit spawned by poll worker errors in the August primary election served as a teaching moment, Alaska’s elections director said, adding that her division is ready for Tuesday’s general election.
Josie Bahnke said she feels good heading into the election, especially after providing in-person training with poll workers and listening to their concerns. One of the points that was stressed is the number that workers should call if they have any issues.
“The takeaway from the primary is, if you have issues, let me know and we’ll deal with them,” Bahnke told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The Division of Elections was sued over its handling of a primary race between state Rep. Benjamin Nageak of Barrow and Dean Westlake, both Democrats. The division certified the close race for Westlake, a decision challenged by attorneys for Nageak, who flagged concerns with election day voters in Shungnak receiving both the Republican ballot and the ballot with Democratic and other candidates.
A lower court judge awarded the race to Nageak, finding the situation in Shungnak especially problematic. But that decision was reversed by the Alaska Supreme Court, which reinstated Westlake as the winner.
Bahnke said the division’s major focus on training is in the lead-up to the primary. Precincts that experience turnover between the primary and general elections get training and follow-up, she said. There was turnover around the state this year, she said. Poll workers for Shungnak were among those who received training recently, she said.
Some regional supervisors have set up teleconferences or email blasts and have spent time talking with poll workers and answering any questions, she said.
“We’re ready,” she said.
Both the Republican and Democratic parties plan to have poll watchers in place to monitor the election, though that’s not unusual.
State GOP Chairman Tuckerman Babcock said he has concerns with the division, particularly after the primary. Nageak is among the rural Democrats who caucus with the Republican-led House majority, and the state GOP took an interest in his case.
“I hope that the division is treating very seriously the need to make sure that people are trained and account for the ballots properly and account for the distribution properly,” he said. “I’m not aware that they have really focused a tremendous amount on training in the last two months. So I’m nervous about it.”
Jake Hamburg, a spokesman for the Democratic party, said he wasn’t prepared to comment Thursday on whether Democrats believe the division is prepared.
