Elections

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, shakes hands with members of the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, following her annual address in the state Capitol. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski again endorses Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola

Alaska’s senior U.S. Senator endorsed Peltola in 2022 and says cross-party collaboration is important.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, shakes hands with members of the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, following her annual address in the state Capitol. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Begich wants to join the herd of timid followers

On the very top of his campaign website, Nick Begich III claims he’s a “commonsense leader.” There aren’t many of those left in today’s Republican… Continue reading

(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
A voter receives his ballot for Alaska’s primary election at the Mendenhall Mall Annex on Aug. 17. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Not voting for a Republican in general election for first time in more than 50 years

As a voter in Alaska for over 50 years, the 2024 general election will be my first in which I will not be supporting a… Continue reading

A voter receives his ballot for Alaska’s primary election at the Mendenhall Mall Annex on Aug. 17. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
Michelle Sparck, director of Get Out The Native Vote, stands by her business’ booth on Saturday at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage. Sparck, wearing a button identifying her as a Cup’ik voter, is urging Alaska Natives to be more diligent about voting in both state and local elections. In addition to her voter-education work, Sparck has a beauty-products business, ArXotica, that she and her sisters founded. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Campaign to boost Native voting combats both apathy and logistical challenges

Advocates are pushing for both engagement and easing of barriers affecting rural residents.

Michelle Sparck, director of Get Out The Native Vote, stands by her business’ booth on Saturday at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage. Sparck, wearing a button identifying her as a Cup’ik voter, is urging Alaska Natives to be more diligent about voting in both state and local elections. In addition to her voter-education work, Sparck has a beauty-products business, ArXotica, that she and her sisters founded. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Best choice is Begich

I don’t know about you, but I am ready to vote, learn the results, and move on. I am old enough to remember when on… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
In this sample primary ballot released by the state, fictional candidates compete in a primary election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: An opportunity to vote yes on something – Ballot Measure 2

Every few years, moderate and conservative voters seem to find themselves in the position of voting against propositions generated by left-of-center entities. We haven’t yet… Continue reading

In this sample primary ballot released by the state, fictional candidates compete in a primary election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
A sign inside the Mendenhall Mall Annex points toward a polling place during the statewide primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Nick Begich shares our realistic vision for Alaska

I watched all the debates. Mary Peltola has never done anything foolish, but neither has she ever said anything wise. She trades for her own… Continue reading

A sign inside the Mendenhall Mall Annex points toward a polling place during the statewide primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
These materials are mailed to Alaska voters who request absentee ballots. Clockwise, from the top left: The envelope from the Alaska Division of Elections, the return envelope, the ballot and instructions. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska’s first votes appear to show disproportionately high Democratic interest

Early voting locations opened Monday across Alaska for registered voters to cast ballots in the Nov. 5 general election. The lone exception was in Fairbanks,… Continue reading

These materials are mailed to Alaska voters who request absentee ballots. Clockwise, from the top left: The envelope from the Alaska Division of Elections, the return envelope, the ballot and instructions. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)
Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich speaks to an audience at the Alaska Chamber of Commerce’s U.S. House debate on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Fairbanks. At left is incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska. The two candidates again participated in a forum on Monday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

As early voting opens, Peltola and Begich meet for last face-to-face forum before Election Day

Two leading candidates in U.S. House election appear at a forum hosted by the Anchorage Chamber.

Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich speaks to an audience at the Alaska Chamber of Commerce’s U.S. House debate on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Fairbanks. At left is incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska. The two candidates again participated in a forum on Monday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A sign outside of a McDonald’s restaurant in Midtown Anchorage, seen on Oct. 7, advertises openings for jobs that pay up to $16 an hour. Voters will decide the fate of a ballot measure that would set a $15-an-hour minimum wage by 2027 and mandate paid sick leave for workers. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaskans to vote on measure raising the minimum wage and mandating paid sick leave

Alaska voters will weigh in on a ballot measure that would increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027 and require that… Continue reading

A sign outside of a McDonald’s restaurant in Midtown Anchorage, seen on Oct. 7, advertises openings for jobs that pay up to $16 an hour. Voters will decide the fate of a ballot measure that would set a $15-an-hour minimum wage by 2027 and mandate paid sick leave for workers. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
These materials are mailed to Alaska voters who request absentee ballots. Clockwise, from the top right: The envelope from the Alaska Division of Elections, the return envelope, the ballot and instructions. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)

As dropbox program ends, most Alaska absentee voters will pay $1.46 to cast their ballots

The Alaska Division of Elections has not continued a ballot dropbox program operated in coordination with the Municipality of Anchorage during the last presidential election,… Continue reading

These materials are mailed to Alaska voters who request absentee ballots. Clockwise, from the top right: The envelope from the Alaska Division of Elections, the return envelope, the ballot and instructions. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)
In an undated photo via Carol Ann Hafner, Eric Hafner. Hafner, who is serving a 20-year sentence, is running to represent a state in which he has never set foot. He could play the spoiler under Alaska’s ranked-choice system. (Via Carol Ann Hafner via The New York Times)

How a man imprisoned in New York could sway Alaska’s key U.S. House race

In close race between Peltola and Begich that may determine House majority, Eric Hafner is a bizarre twist.

  • Oct 15, 2024
  • By Corey Kilgannon ©2024 The New York Times Company
  • NewsElections
In an undated photo via Carol Ann Hafner, Eric Hafner. Hafner, who is serving a 20-year sentence, is running to represent a state in which he has never set foot. He could play the spoiler under Alaska’s ranked-choice system. (Via Carol Ann Hafner via The New York Times)
A sign inside the Mendenhall Mall Annex points toward a polling place during the statewide primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: A candidate in the November election who reaches across the aisle

Alaska has a rich history of political coalitions, but one congressional candidate on November’s ballot shows no inclination to reach across the aisle. Although his… Continue reading

A sign inside the Mendenhall Mall Annex points toward a polling place during the statewide primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
The ranked choice outcome for Alaska’s U.S. Senate race is shown during an Alaska Public Media broadcast on Nov. 24, 2022. (Alaska Division of Elections)

What Alaska voters should know as they consider a repeal of open primaries and ranked choice voting

State would revert to primaries controlled by political parties, general elections that pick one candidate.

The ranked choice outcome for Alaska’s U.S. Senate race is shown during an Alaska Public Media broadcast on Nov. 24, 2022. (Alaska Division of Elections)
Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich, left, and Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska (right) remove their microphones after a televised debate Thursday night, Oct. 10, 2024, in Anchorage. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Debate: Peltola declines to endorse Harris, Begich questions 2020 election legitimacy

Televised TV and radio debate offers rare insight into U.S. House candidates’ views on social issues.

Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich, left, and Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska (right) remove their microphones after a televised debate Thursday night, Oct. 10, 2024, in Anchorage. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Pins supporting the repeal of ranked choice voting are seen on April 20, 2024, at the Republican state convention in Anchorage. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska ranked choice voting repeal effort outraised a hundredfold, campaign finance filings show

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Lesil McGuire’s name and note that campaign finance disclosures are made to the Alaska Public… Continue reading

Pins supporting the repeal of ranked choice voting are seen on April 20, 2024, at the Republican state convention in Anchorage. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
From left to right, Nick Begich, Republican candidate for U.S. House; Alaskan Independence Party candidate John Wayne Howe and Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, hold up paddles indicating their opposition to finfish farming in Alaska. Howe had jokingly looked at Begich’s paddle before making a decision. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

At U.S. House debate in Kodiak, candidates differ on future of Alaska fisheries

Begich emphasizes fighting for the state, Peltola focuses on building support in Congress.

From left to right, Nick Begich, Republican candidate for U.S. House; Alaskan Independence Party candidate John Wayne Howe and Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, hold up paddles indicating their opposition to finfish farming in Alaska. Howe had jokingly looked at Begich’s paddle before making a decision. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Republican challenger Nick Begich III and Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola are on the stage at the beginning of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association’s candidate forum on Aug. 28, 2024. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska’s U.S. House candidates face each other three times in three days this week

Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, and her leading challenger, Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich, will appear on stage at three election forums and debates this… Continue reading

Republican challenger Nick Begich III and Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola are on the stage at the beginning of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association’s candidate forum on Aug. 28, 2024. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)
An early voting station is set up in the atrium of the State Office Building on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the first day of early voting for the 2024 Alaska primary election. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska records show no evidence of widespread noncitizen voting or registration

Trump and in-state Republicans have falsely claimed that noncitizens are voting in large numbers.

An early voting station is set up in the atrium of the State Office Building on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the first day of early voting for the 2024 Alaska primary election. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
An early voting station is set up in the atrium of the State Office Building in Juneau on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the first day of early voting for the 2024 Alaska primary election. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska’s voter registration deadline is Sunday, but most residents don’t need to worry

Sunday, Oct. 6, is the deadline to register as an Alaska voter for the November general election. Elections offices will be open from 10 a.m.… Continue reading

An early voting station is set up in the atrium of the State Office Building in Juneau on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the first day of early voting for the 2024 Alaska primary election. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)