Alaska casts first ballots as early voting opens

For Odette Edgar, Election Day looms, but so does vacation.

The Juneau resident was among more than 160 people who walked through the doors of the polling station in the State Office Building atrium before 3 p.m. Monday and cast some of the first Alaska votes in the 2016 general election.

Monday was the first day of early voting in the election, and it will continue every workday through Nov. 7. Election Day is Nov. 8.

Edgar, who voted with two others, said she wanted to vote because she’s interested in the presidential race but she’ll be on vacation in early November.

“It’s terrifying,” she said. “It’s like the entire history of the world depends on this election.”

Others who walked into the polling station said they simply wanted to get it out of the way. They’ve heard enough about the candidates, and they’re ready.

“I want to get it out of the way before the big crowd comes,” said Jared Shucha, who wore his blue “I Voted Today!” sticker at lunchtime.

Bill Dillon, who voted at the same time, said he’s made it a habit to vote early for every year he’s lived in Alaska. Like Shucha, he wants to beat the rush.

“Look at this line I’m in!” he said, gesturing at the few people in front of him.

The line might have looked small, but poll worker Hali Denton said it was “really busy,” with 63 people voting by noon.

In her experience, the first and last days of early voting are the busiest, with downtime between.

She’s not so certain that will be the case this year.

“Everything else is different this year; maybe that’ll be different too,” she said.

In Juneau, the Division of Elections operates polling stations in the State Office Building and the regional elections office in the Mendenhall Mall Annex. Any registered Alaska voter can vote early; no advance notice is required, but you will need to bring a photo ID or a voter ID. Voting is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each workday.

Other early-voting locations in Southeast are available, but they tend to be restricted to local residents only. Visit the Division of Elections website at www.elections.alaska.gov/AVO_GEN_2016.php for a full listing.