Nick Begich, the nephew of former U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, is a Republican who generally sticks close to President Trump.

With more than 98% of precincts reporting, Democrat Mary Peltola held a slight lead over incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race.

On Nov. 3, voters took to polls across the country to cast their votes in the midterm election. In Bethel, poll workers and community members said that it appeared to be a stand-out voting year. KYUK asked voters what made this election important.

Two lawsuits were filed against the Alaska Division of Elections over the failure to open early and absentee-in-person voting locations in 18 rural communities. Officials say 13 sites were open Nov. 2.

Polling stations in Ruby and Ekwok both had opened by midday Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to a political advocacy group.

Polls across Alaska are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Preliminary election results will be released late on Nov. 3, though the Alaska Division of Elections does not expect ballots to be certified until Nov. 25.

About 70% of ballots are typically counted on Election Night, and results could shift.

Advocates for repealing Alaska's voting method say it invites shenanigans. Defenders of ranked choice voting, though, say Alaska's system blunts the spoiler effect.

The U.S. Senate candidate told more than 100 of her supporters packed into the Bethel VFW hall on Nov. 1 that allegations that her campaign was involved in recruiting a second Dan Sullivan to enter the Senate race were a distraction from issues that matter to rural Alaskans.

One Republican, one Democrat, and two independents, including the current Alaska House Speaker, are running to represent the large rural district.