Update: This story has been updated with information on how to get a free ride to the Bethel polls on Election Day, and a rundown of KYUK's election coverage.
Original Story: On November 6, 2018, polls and absentee in-person locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To find your assigned polling location, call 1-888-383-8686 or visit this site. Polling locations in Bethel will be at the Bethel Cultural Center and the Lower Kuskokwim School District Office.
Kusko Cab will be providing free rides to the Bethel polls. On Tuesday, just call Kusko Cab at 907-543-2169 and say, "I want to vote." Your driver will pick you up and take you to your precinct free of charge. After you have voted, call them for a free ride home by showing your "I Voted" sticker.
View a sample ballot for Alaska House District 38 here. On the ballot will appear candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, Alaska Governor and Lieutenant Governor, State Senator District S, State Representative District 38, Fourth Judicial District Superior Court, and Ballot Measure 1, an initiative that aims to toughen the permitting process for projects proposed in salmon habitat and revise public participation within that process.
To find step-by-step voting information, visit this Alaska Division of Elections site.
KYUK will begin election coverage on Tuesday evening. From 4 to 9 p.m., KYUK will be switching between election coverage from NPR and Native Voice One. From 9 to 11 p.m., we will be airing state election coverage from Alaska Public Media while also providing live updates on local election results. You can also look to our website and Facebook page for result updates.
Here's more election information that has been taken from a voting guide developed by the Alaska Division of Elections:
Bring Identification to the Polls
Voters MUST be prepared to show one form of identification. Voters may use the following ID: voter ID card, driver’s license, State ID card, current and valid photo ID, passport, military ID card, birth certificate, hunting or fishing license. A voter may also use an original copy of one of the following documents if it contains the voter’s name and current address: current utility bill, government check, bank statement, pay check, or other government document. If a voter does not have identification when voting, the voter will be asked to vote a questioned ballot.
What if the Voter’s Name is not on the Register
If a voter’s name does not appear on the precinct register, the voter may vote a questioned ballot. Before receiving a ballot, the voter must complete a questioned ballot envelope. The voter’s voted ballot will be placed in a secrecy sleeve and then the secrecy sleeve will be sealed inside the completed questioned ballot envelope. All questioned ballots are returned to the Election Supervisor for review and counting by the Questioned Ballot Review Board.
Marking the Ballot
When voting the ballot, the voter needs to completely fill in the oval next to the candidate or issue he/she wishes to vote for. Voters only have to mark the races or issues they choose to vote for. If a voter marks more than one choice in a race or issue, that section of the ballot will NOT be counted. The sections of the ballot that are properly marked will be counted. If a voter makes a mistake marking the ballot, DO NOT erase or correct the ballot. The voter may return the spoiled ballot to an election worker and request a new ballot. If a voter attempts to correct a mistake on the ballot, the corrected vote may not be counted. Note: A voter may only receive a replacement for a spoiled ballot 2 times.
Assistance While Voting
If a voter needs assistance during the voting process, the voter may ask the election board or have a person of his/her choice provide any needed assistance as long as that person is not a candidate, the voter’s employer, agent of the voter’s employer or agent of a union the voter belongs to. The voter may receive assistance during each phase of the voting process, including assistance in the voting booth. Alaska Native language assistance is available in many rural communities. Filipino (Tagalog) and Spanish assistance is available in certain communities along the Aleutian chain.
Campaigning Prohibited Near Polls
Political persuasion is prohibited within 200 feet of any entrance to a polling place when the polls are open. This means that there may not be any discussion or display of campaign items for candidates or issues appearing on the ballot at that polling place.
