Elections

Candidates for the school board and Juneau Assembly participate in a candidate forum hosted by the Juneau League of Women Voters and KTOO on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (screenshot)

School board, Assembly candidates discuss issues at League of Women forum

Election day is Oct. 7

 

Juneau’s cruise ship dock is seen July 11, 2025. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire file)

Juneau chamber opposes Proposition 3, takes no stance on Propositions 1 and 2

Proposition 3 would institute a 7.5% sales tax rate from April through September

 

The Juneau League of Women Voters and KTOO are hosting a candidate forum on Friday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m.
Video

Watch Now: 2025 League of Women Voters candidate forum

The forum will be held Friday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.

 

City and Borough of Juneau City Hall is photographed on July 12, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire file)

Municipal election candidate filing period opens July 18

The filing period runs from July 18 at 8 a.m. to July 28 at 4:30 p.m.

City and Borough of Juneau City Hall is photographed on July 12, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire file)
Members of the Juneau Assembly and Juneau Board of Education, along with top administrators for the city and school district, meet jointly on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Local leaders considering ranked choice voting for CBJ elections — with a strong ‘undecided’ tally so far

School board opts to delay its stance until Assembly, which meets Monday, gets more public clarity about proposal.

Members of the Juneau Assembly and Juneau Board of Education, along with top administrators for the city and school district, meet jointly on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, speaks to the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, April 25, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

At adjournment, Alaska Legislature leaves elections overhaul, campaign finance bills undone

House Bill 16 and Senate Bill 64 could be part of a wave of big legislation that passes early next year.

Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, speaks to the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, April 25, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska House of Representatives is seen in action on Monday, May 5, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Republican opposition kills bill intended to fix Alaska’s absentee voting problems

Senate Bill 64 passed the Senate this week, but the House doesn’t have enough time to address it, legislators said.

The Alaska House of Representatives is seen in action on Monday, May 5, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A sign posted on Aug. 18, 2024, outside of the Alaska Division of Elections office in Midtown Anchorage directs voters to the polling place inside. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Senate passes elections overhaul to update voter rolls, introduce ballot tracking, curing

The Alaska Senate voted to enact new rules to streamline the voting process in Alaska and expand voter access. If signed into law, the legislation… Continue reading

A sign posted on Aug. 18, 2024, outside of the Alaska Division of Elections office in Midtown Anchorage directs voters to the polling place inside. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, at left, and former state Sen. Click Bishop, at right, have each filed letters of intent signaling they will run for governor in 2026. (Alaska Beacon file photos)

Republicans Nancy Dahlstrom and Click Bishop are first to file for 2026 Alaska governor’s race

Bishop says he plans listening sessions with voters across the state before campaigning in earnest.

Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, at left, and former state Sen. Click Bishop, at right, have each filed letters of intent signaling they will run for governor in 2026. (Alaska Beacon file photos)
Four petitions seeking to put proposals on the fall municipal election ballot were filed this week with the Juneau city clerk’s office. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Group hopes to put mill rate cap, food and utility tax exemptions, in-person elections on local fall ballot

Three petitions submitted Thursday by Affordable Juneau Coalition now under CBJ review.

Four petitions seeking to put proposals on the fall municipal election ballot were filed this week with the Juneau city clerk’s office. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A dropoff box for ballots at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Alaska’s elections get shakeup favoring conservatives under new Trump executive order

Order requires federal ballots to be received by Election Day, proof of citizenship to register to vote.

A dropoff box for ballots at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
A voter in Alaska’s special U.S. House primary election drops their ballot into a box on Saturday, June 11, 2022 as a poll worker observes. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Election reforms are on the agenda for Alaska lawmakers this year

Gov. Mike Dunleavy introduced bill through House; Senate majority is expected to introduce its own.

A voter in Alaska’s special U.S. House primary election drops their ballot into a box on Saturday, June 11, 2022 as a poll worker observes. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Voters at Anchorage City Hall wait in line to cast their ballots on Nov. 4, 2024, the day before Election Day. City Hall, in downtown Anchorage, was one of the designated early voting sites in the state’s largest city. The director of the Alaska Division of Election answered some pointed questions at a legislative hearing last week. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska legislators, citing some citizen complaints, probe management of 2024 election

State elections director defends process as secure, trustworthy and fair, despite some glitches.

Voters at Anchorage City Hall wait in line to cast their ballots on Nov. 4, 2024, the day before Election Day. City Hall, in downtown Anchorage, was one of the designated early voting sites in the state’s largest city. The director of the Alaska Division of Election answered some pointed questions at a legislative hearing last week. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Division of Elections officials on Thursday display scanned ballots from the Nov. 5 election on screens for attorneys monitoring a recount of a measure to repeal ranked choice in the state. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Recount of ranked choice repeal upholds voters’ rejection — and increases margin by six votes

State elections officials declare measure failed by 743 votes out of 335,767 cast, or 49.88%-50.12%.

Alaska Division of Elections officials on Thursday display scanned ballots from the Nov. 5 election on screens for attorneys monitoring a recount of a measure to repeal ranked choice in the state. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A recount of ballots from the Nov. 5 election is observed Wednesday morning by Alaska Division of Elections officials and participants in a challenge to the outcome of a measure to repeal ranked choice voting in the state. The recount at the division director’s office in Juneau began Tuesday and is expected to last up to 10 days. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Recount for ranked choice ballot measure begins under watchful eyes of attorneys

Relative handful of oddly marked ballots questioned, few of those “quarantined” for further scrutiny.

A recount of ballots from the Nov. 5 election is observed Wednesday morning by Alaska Division of Elections officials and participants in a challenge to the outcome of a measure to repeal ranked choice voting in the state. The recount at the division director’s office in Juneau began Tuesday and is expected to last up to 10 days. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
“I voted” stickers are seen on display in the headquarters offices of the Alaska Division of Elections in Juneau on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska election results are official: Here are 5 takeaways

Margin grows in defeat of measure to repeal open primary and ranked choice voting system.

“I voted” stickers are seen on display in the headquarters offices of the Alaska Division of Elections in Juneau on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Ranked choice votes in Alaska’s U.S. House race are tallied Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the state Division of Election’s office. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Recount of defeated ranked choice repeal ballot measure faces long odds — but has an ardent attorney

Lawyer for other “election integrity” efforts argued Supreme Court should overturn Trump’s 2020 defeat.

Ranked choice votes in Alaska’s U.S. House race are tallied Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the state Division of Election’s office. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Media members and other observers gather at the Alaska Division of Elections office on Wednesday evening as the results of all ballots, including ranked choice tabulations, were announced. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Ranked choice voting repeal fails by 0.2%, Begich defeats Peltola 51.3%-48.7% on final day of counting

Tally released Wednesday night remains unofficial until Nov. 30 certification.

Media members and other observers gather at the Alaska Division of Elections office on Wednesday evening as the results of all ballots, including ranked choice tabulations, were announced. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The language of Ballot Measure 2 appears on Alaska’s 2024 absentee ballots. The measure would repeal the states open primary and ranked choice voting system. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)

Count tightens to 45-vote margin for repealing Alaska’s ranked choice system going into final day

State Division of Elections scheduled to conduct final tally at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

The language of Ballot Measure 2 appears on Alaska’s 2024 absentee ballots. The measure would repeal the states open primary and ranked choice voting system. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)
A voter talks to election officials at a early voting station at the State Office Building on Monday, Nov. 4. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Ranked choice voting repeal trails for first time in ballot count; Begich’s lead exceeds uncounted votes

Finally tally scheduled Wednesday; recounts possible after certification on Nov. 30.

A voter talks to election officials at a early voting station at the State Office Building on Monday, Nov. 4. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)