How To Vote
UPCOMING VOTING DATES (2025)
The Kolendo Collective strives to provide accurate and up-to-date election information; however, we do not guarantee that all details are 100% accurate or current. Voters are strongly encouraged to verify all dates, deadlines, and requirements directly with official election authorities and websites
November 3, 2026
Alaska State & Federal General Election
On the ballot:
- Governor & Lieutenant Governor,
- U.S. Senate,
- U.S. House,
- Alaska State House,
- Applicable Alaska State Senate races,
- Judicial retention elections, and two statewide ballot measures concerning Alaska's election system and voter qualifications.
- Ballot Measure 2 — Election System: Would repeal Alaska’s top-four open primary and ranked-choice general election system and restore party primaries and single-choice general elections, along with related election and campaign-finance changes.
- Ballot Measure 3 — Voter Qualifications: Would explicitly state in Alaska statute that only U.S. citizens who otherwise qualify may vote in Alaska elections; the Division of Elections says this would not change the existing citizenship requirement.
April 6, 2027
Anchorage Municipality Regular Election
On the ballot:
- Anchorage School Board seats,
- Applicable service-area board seats,
- Ballot propositions.
Final 2027 ballot information is still being determined.
November 3, 2026
Matanuska-Susitna Borough Regular Election
On the ballot:
- Borough Assembly Districts 1, 2, 4 & 5;
- School Board Districts 3 & 6;
- Four borough propositions.
October 6, 2026
Wasilla City Regular Election
On the ballot:
- Mayor,
- City Council Seats C & D.
- No propositions or ballot questions.
October 6, 2026
Palmer City Regular Election
On the ballot:
- City Council seats.
October 6, 2026
Fairbanks North Star Borough Regular Municipal Election
On the ballot:
- Borough Assembly,
- School Board,
- Interior Alaska Natural Gas Utility Board seats,
- Borough propositions.
City of Fairbanks and City of North Pole voters may also have city races on their ballots.
October 6, 2026
Juneau City & Borough Regular Municipal Election
On the ballot:
- One Areawide Assembly seat,
- One District 1 Assembly seat,
- One District 2 Assembly seat,
- Two Board of Education seats.
November 3, 2026
Kenai Peninsula Borough Regular Election
On the ballot:
- Borough Mayor,
- Borough Assembly seats,
- School Board seats,
- Service-area board seats,
- Borough ballot questions.
November 3, 2026
Homer City Regular Election
On the ballot:
- Mayor,
- Two City Council seats,
- A ballot proposition concerning continuation of the Homer Accelerated Roads and Trails (HART) program.
Voting Step-By-Step
This is a general voting guide for Alaska State and Federal elections. Municipal and borough election procedures may be different, so always check with your local election office when voting in a local election.
1. Register to Vote
To be able to vote in an election you must register to vote by the voter registration deadline.
How to Register:
- Online Registration: Visit the Alaska Division of Elections online voter registration system here. A valid Alaska driver's license or state ID is required to use the online system.
- In-Person Registration: Go to your local Devisions of Elections office, Department of Motor Vehicles office, or clerks office.
- Paper Registration: Download and print the official Alaska voter registration application here. Complete and sign the application and submit it to your Regional Elections Office.
2. Check Your Voter Registration Status
3. Find Your Polling Place
How to Find It:
- Use the Alaska Division of Elections My Voter Portal here to find your assigned Election Day polling place.
- You can also view the Division of Elections' current polling-place list here.
Polling locations can change, so verify your location before Election Day. State polling places are generally open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
Local municipal and borough elections may use different voting locations.
4. Prepare for Voting day
How to Prepare:
- Make a plan: decide whether you will vote on Election Day, early, absentee in person, or by mail.
- Check your voting location and hours.
- Bring acceptable identification when voting in person.
- Review your official sample ballot before voting. State election sample ballots are available here.
5. VOTE!
How to Vote:
- In-Person Voting: Go to your assigned polling place, present acceptable identification, and cast your ballot.
- Early Voting: Find an early or absentee in-person voting location and learn more about early voting here.
- Absentee / Mail-In Voting: Request and complete your ballot according to the instructions provided and return it by the applicable deadline (via mail or designated drop-off locations). Learn more about absentee voting here.
Early / Absentee Voting
If you can't vote in person on Election Day, all areas in Alaska offer both absentee and early voting options, no excuse is required. Municipal and borough elections administer their own early and absentee voting programs, and their procedures and deadlines may be different. Here’s everything you need to know:
For state elections, early and absentee in-person voting generally begins 15 days before Election Day and may continue through Election Day depending on the voting location.
Early:
Early voting in Alaska is available for both state and local elections but is administered separately by the Alaska Division of Elections (for state elections) and by your local election office (for municipal or borough elections).
Eligibility:
All registered voters in Alaska are eligible to vote early; no excuse is required.
Early Voting Period:
Early voting typically begins 15 days before Election Day and continues through the day before the election.
Where to Vote:
- State Elections: Visit early voting sites listed by the Alaska Division of Elections.
- Local Elections: Check your local election office’s website for early voting locations and hours, or contact them directly.
Identification Requirements:
Voters must present acceptable identification when voting early. Acceptable forms include a voter ID card, driver’s license, state ID, passport, or other government-issued documents.
Absentee:
Any registered Alaska voter may request an absentee ballot by mail. No reason or excuse is required, but requires separate applications:
1. Request an Absentee Ballot
- State Elections: Apply through the Alaska Division of Elections (online, by mail, or by fax). Applications must be received no later than 7 days before Election Day.
- Local Elections: Apply through your local election office. Applications and instructions are often available on their website. Deadlines and application methods may vary by jurisdiction.
2. Receive and Complete Your Ballot
Your absentee ballot will be mailed to you at the address you provided.
Follow the instructions included with the ballot to complete it.
3. Return Your Ballot
Mail your completed ballot to the address provided with your ballot materials or deliver it to an authorized drop-off location if available.
For state elections:
- A mailed absentee ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day.
- A ballot mailed from within the United States may be received up to 10 days after Election Day if it was properly postmarked by Election Day.
- A ballot mailed from outside the United States may be received up to 15 days after Election Day if properly postmarked.
- If returning your ballot to an authorized voting location in person, it must be returned by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
4. Track Your Ballot
For state elections, use the Alaska Division of Elections My Voter Portal here to check your absentee application and ballot status.
Voting as a College Student
If you are an Alaska resident attending college either inside or outside Alaska, you may remain registered to vote in Alaska if you meet Alaska's residency requirements.
If you temporarily leave Alaska for college and intend to return, you may use the Alaska residence address where you lived before leaving the state as your voting residence.
You can find the Alaska Division of Elections' information specifically for college voters here.
1. Register to Vote
Make sure you are registered to vote in Alaska at your home address. If you need to register or update your information, follow the registration steps provided above.
To be able to vote in an election you must register to vote by the voter registration deadline.
2. Request an Absentee Ballot
- State Elections: You can submit an absentee ballot application online through the Alaska Division of Elections here.
- Local Elections: Submit an absentee ballot application by mail or fax to your local election office. Applications and instructions are often available on your local election office’s website.
3. Receive and Complete Your Ballot
Your absentee ballot will be mailed to the mailing address you provide (such as your college address).
Follow the included instructions carefully to complete your ballot correctly.
4. Return Your Absentee Ballot
Mail your completed ballot to the return address provided with your ballot materials.
- State elections: A mailed ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day. Ballots mailed from within the United States may be received up to 10 days after Election Day; ballots mailed from outside the United States may be received up to 15 days after Election Day, provided they were properly postmarked.
- Local elections: Deadlines may vary; check with your local election office to confirm.
Mail your ballot as early as possible, particularly if you are attending college outside Alaska or outside the United States.
You can track your state absentee ballot through the Alaska Division of Elections My Voter Portal here.
Disclaimer: Kolendo Collective provides this information as an independent, non-governmental resource for general informational purposes. Election rules, district boundaries, officeholders, polling locations, and other voting information may change. Always confirm current election information with the Alaska Division of Elections or the appropriate local election authority.
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