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Nageak files lawsuits against state officials over election

Published 8:02 am Sunday, September 18, 2016

Josie Bahnke, director of the Alaska Division of Elections, writes down vote totals in Juneau, Alaska, on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. A recount was being conducted in the the House District 40 primary race between incumbent Rep. Ben Nageak and his Democratic challenger, Dean Westlake. (Michael Penn of the Juneau Empire via AP).
Josie Bahnke, director of the Alaska Division of Elections, writes down vote totals in Juneau, Alaska, on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. A recount was being conducted in the the House District 40 primary race between incumbent Rep. Ben Nageak and his Democratic challenger, Dean Westlake. (Michael Penn of the Juneau Empire via AP).

ANCHORAGE — The losing incumbent in a northern Alaska state legislative race has filed two lawsuits against state elections officials, alleging illegal procedures were followed.

KTVA-TV reported Democrat Benjamin Nageak filed the lawsuits Friday against Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott and Division of Elections Director Josie Bahnke over the House District 40 race.

A recount confirmed challenger Dean Westlake won the race by eight votes, after initial certified results showed Westlake leading by four votes.

Attorneys for Nageak allege voters in more than one precinct were illegally given both a Republican ballot and a Democrat ballot.

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