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Due to the pandemic, state elections officials expect a record number of absentee ballots will be submitted for the primary election coming up this month. For many people, this will be the first time that they have voted by mail. Alaska Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer says that the ballot is straightforward, with one exception:

“Our absentee ballots do require a witness, and they do require a personal identifier as well as the person’s signature,” Meyer said.

On Aug. 4, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation confirmed another positive COVID-19 case in a resident of a village in their service area. The person tested positive in Anchorage, and YKHC was notified late on Aug. 3. The person has been out of the region for the past two weeks and is currently self-isolating in Anchorage. That makes the fourth case this week, and the 38th case that YKHC has announced. 

If you want to vote in the primary by mail with an absentee ballot, you have to get the application in right away. Under state law, the application for an absentee ballot must be received by the Alaska Division of Elections 10 days before the election. That means that to vote in the primary by mail, the division needs to receive your absentee ballot request by Saturday, Aug. 8.

Because many voters may be afraid to go to the polls and vote during the pandemic, the state is expecting a large number of absentee votes this year. Both the state’s Democratic and Republican parties have sent out absentee ballot request forms to their members and independent voters. The state also sent them to elderly voters, and the forms are available online at the Alaska Division of Elections' website. 

The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation announced three cases of COVID-19 over the weekend.

The Lower Yukon community of Mountain Village is shutting its doors to nearby nonresidents unless they have permission to enter from the tribe, according to City Manager Michelle Peterson.

Those who have moved to Mertarvik are making themselves at home.