Nearly every voting booth was occupied at a polling place in Nugget Mall on the evening of Nov. 3, 2020. While over 190,000 votes cast on Election Day have been tallied, state officials will begin counting more than 155,000 absentee and other types of ballots this week. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Nearly every voting booth was occupied at a polling place in Nugget Mall on the evening of Nov. 3, 2020. While over 190,000 votes cast on Election Day have been tallied, state officials will begin counting more than 155,000 absentee and other types of ballots this week. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

State elections officials prepare for absentee ballot count

There’s still a lot of counting ahead.

By BECKY BOHRER

Associated Press

Alaska election officials plan to begin counting more than 155,000 absentee and other ballots Tuesday, a week after Election Day.

Some have questioned or criticized the lag, citing a provision of state law that says the counting of reviewed absentee ballots should begin the night of the election. But Maria Bahr, an Alaska Department of Law spokesperson, said absentee ballots are not deemed eligible for counting until voter histories have been run to guard against any possible duplicate votes.

The process involves going through precinct registers, which election officials were still receiving Monday, Division of Elections spokesperson Tiffany Montemayor said. She said it can take time for mail to arrive in the vast state.

“We’re using every resource that we can to get those things in as fast as we can,” she said.

Election officials urged patience ahead of the election, anticipating a large volume of absentee ballots and saying it would take time for results to be known. Some campaigns emphasized absentee and early voting amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Election Day, Nov. 3, was the deadline for ballots returned by mail to have been postmarked. This Friday, Nov. 13, is the deadline for the division to receive ballots that were postmarked within the U.S. Nov. 18 is the deadline to receive absentees postmarked outside the U.S.

About 190,000 ballots already have been counted, including Election Day and early in-person votes through Oct. 29, according to division statistics. The initial results showed the Republican incumbents in the races for president, U.S. Senate and U.S. House with largely similar tallies and sizable advantages.

In the Senate race, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan predicted a win, while his challenger, independent Al Gross, the Democratic nominee, has begun raising money “to make sure every vote is counted in this critical battleground race,” according to a tweet on his candidate page.

“As we’ve seen across the country and we’ve seen in Alaska, many people, especially our supporters, voted by mail,” Gross spokesperson Matt Lehner said. “We believe that there is a path and that a win is possible.”

Sullivan campaign manager Matt Shuckerow said based on analyses of available data, Gross has “no realistic path” to victory.

“I think a lot of Alaskans would like clarity; I know our campaign would like some clarity on this election,” Shuckerow said. “And we feel optimistic that on Tuesday … we will have a tally that clearly shows what we know: and that’s that Alaskans have proudly voted to re-elect Dan Sullivan.”

Meanwhile, the outcome of the state legislative races will help decide who controls the Alaska House and Senate. In Alaska, lawmakers don’t always organize according to party. Personalities and policy also can be factors.

Montemayor said the vote count could extend into Wednesday because of the number of ballots to process.

This photo shows an absentee ballot sent to an Alaska voter in October. More than 155,000 absentee and other ballots have yet to be counted, according to Alaska Division of Elections data. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

This photo shows an absentee ballot sent to an Alaska voter in October. More than 155,000 absentee and other ballots have yet to be counted, according to Alaska Division of Elections data. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

More in News

(Juneau Empire File)
Aurora forecast for the week of Nov. 27

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire File
Even the Grinch got into the holiday spirit at last year’s Gallery Walk on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.
An abundance of traditional and new ways to capitalize on this year’s Gallery Walk

More than 50 events scheduled Friday afternoon and evening from downtown to Douglas.

This view is from Wrangell on Sept. 11, 2022. (Photo by Joaqlin Estus/ICT)
Conservation group supports formation of new Alaska Native corporations

The conservation group the Wilderness Society has changed its position and now… Continue reading

From her hospital bed on Friday, Nov. 24, Christina Florschutz demonstrates how she pulled pajama bottoms that she found in the landslide debris over her legs, arms and head to keep warm. Her house was destroyed in the landslide, and after spending the night in the wreckage, she was rescued the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 21. (Caroleine James / Wrangell Sentinel)
Elementary school aide who survived Wrangell landslide calls circumstances a miracle

Christina Florschutz trapped overnight by landslide that killed at least 4 people, with 2 missing.

Lylah Habeger (left) and Jaila Ramirez lead the Konfeta Corps during a rehearsal of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” at Juneau Dance Theatre. The ballet will be performed in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.At.Kalé auditorium Friday through Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Juneau Dance Theatre)
‘Nutcracker’ tradition, with a twirl of new choreography

This year’s performances feature a cast of 93, ages 5 to 78

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023

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

Rain at the National Weather Service Juneau station on Nov. 11 doesn’t exist as snow until hits the upper portion of nearby Thunder Mountain. So far this November has been both warmer and wetter than normal. (Photo by National Weather Service Juneau)
El Niño playing outsize role in Juneau’s warmer temperatures, according to National Weather Service

Early peek at numbers shows Juneau is 4.9 degrees warmer than average this November.

An emergency rescue vehicle parks in front of the Riverview Senior Living center at midday Monday after resident Nathan Bishop, 58, was discovered in the attic about 40 hours after he was reported missing. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Nathan Bishop found alive in attic of Riverview Senior Living complex after 40-hour search

Family members say they remain supportive of facility’s locally available assisted living services.

Most Read