AK’s Voting Options for COVID-19 Safety
According to the CDC, “elections with only in-person voting on a single day are higher risk for COVID-19 spread because there will be larger crowds and longer wait times.” Although COVID-19 transmission is on the rise in Alaska, absentee ballots, early voting, and special needs ballots are voting options offered by the state of Alaska for state and federal elections that can reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread. Voting is important and necessary political action for many Alaskans, and by using all the options available to us we can keep each other safe.
Read through to explore the voting options available to you.
Absentee Ballots
Alaska offers three kinds of absentee ballots: by-mail, by-fax, and online delivery (email). No justification is required to apply for any kind of absentee ballot: any registered voter may apply. You must sign in the presence of a witness (anyone over 18 years old) for any form of absentee ballot.
By-mail Absentee Ballots
In order to apply for an absentee ballot online, visit https://absenteeballotapplication.alaska.gov/ where you can apply with DMV validation. To apply you will need your name, date of birth, the last four numbers of your Social Security, and your Alaska driver’s license or state ID number. You can also download a PDF form, fill it out, and sign it with a handwritten signature, and then mail, email, or fax it Alaska’s Division of Elections. If you do not have access to a computer contact the Division of Elections at 907-465-4611 or 1-866-952-8683 to request a paper application to be delivered by mail. Absentee ballots are mailed 45 days before election day for certain groups such as active duty military, and 25 days before election day for everyone else.
The deadlines for by-mail absentee ballot applications are:
Saturday, August 8th, for the August 18th primary elections.
Saturday, September 26th, for the October 6th REAA elections.
Saturday, October 24th, for the November 3rd general elections.
By-mail absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day. Learn more about by-mail absentee voting here: https://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/votingbymail.php.
Electronic Transmission Absentee Ballots
Electronic transmission absentee ballots applications are available 15 days before the date of each Election Day. Alaska offers two electronic transmission ballot options: fax and online delivery (email). Electronic transmission ballots are delivered 24 to 48 hours after your application is received. Electronic transmission absentee ballots must be submitted before 5:00 PM on the day before Election Day.
In order to vote by fax, you must have access to a fax machine. To apply for a by-fax absentee ballot or to learn more visit this website: https://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/votingbyfax.php.
In order to vote an online delivery ballot you must have access to a computer, a printer, and an email account. To apply for an online delivery absentee ballot or to learn more visit this website: https://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/votingbyonline.php.
Electronic transmission absentee ballot applications are available at 8:00 AM on:
Monday August 3rd, for the August 18th primary elections.
Monday, October 19th, for the November 3rd general elections.
Note: Electronic transmission is not available for REAA elections.
Early and Absentee In-Person Voting
Early voting and absentee in-person voting begins fifteen days prior to the date of each election. Early and absentee in-person locations and times are posted 40 days prior to each Election Day. When early voting, your eligibility is verified by an election official on the spot, is similar to voting on Election Day. When voting absentee in-person, your eligibility to vote is verified after voting by a bipartisan review board. Early voting is available in Juneau, Soldotna, Anchorage, Wasilla, Fairbanks, and Nome. To find early and absentee-person voting locations in your city or town, visit this page on the State of Alaska’s Division of Elections website: https://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/AIPEVEvents.php.
Early and absentee in-person voting begins:
Monday, August 3rd, for the August 18th primary elections.
Monday, September 21 for the October 6th REAA elections (absentee in-person only).
Monday, October 19th, for the November 3rd general elections.
Special needs ballots
If you are unable to vote in-person because of age, illness, or disability you have the option of voting a special needs ballot. Special need voting is available as soon as early and absentee in-person voting is available. Learn more about special needs ballots here: https://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/specialneedsvoting.php. To vote a special needs ballot:
Select a personal representative who will go to a voting location, either on election day or prior to election day at an early voting location.
Your representative will fill out the step one of the special needs envelope with your name, their information, and their signature.
An election worker will provide your representative with the special needs envelope containing a ballot and secrecy sleeve, and your representative will deliver the ballot to you.
Vote your ballot, place it in the secrecy sleeve, and then secure it in the special needs envelope.
Complete step two of the special needs envelope with your information, and your representative will act as witness to your signature.
Your representative will return it to a voting location before 8:00 PM on Election Day.
Note: Your personal representative cannot be a (1) candidate for office in the election, (2) your employer, (3) an agent of your employer, or (4) an officer or agent of your union.