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.
Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer, who is responsible for managing the state’s elections, says that he expects the number of absentee ballots for the upcoming Alaska primary to be similar to turnouts in the primary elections in other states.
“And that is going to slow up the election results this year, because so many people are voting absentee, and we have to wait a week for the mail to get all the ballots to us,” said Meyer. “So we always like to declare a winner on election night or the day after, but it may be difficult to do this year.”
The large number of expected absentee ballots this year also poses a challenge because state law requires all the votes to be counted and the election to be certified 10 days after the election. With absentee ballots able to be postmarked as late as election day, and a lot of them coming in this year, the counting will have to be completed in just a few days.
Also, early voting in-person will not be happening in Bethel this year. The Alaska Division of Elections has not found anyone to manage the service. At first it looked like manning the polls during the election was also going to be tough, but after sending out a letter asking for help, it appears that there will be enough poll workers for both Bethel precincts during the primary and general election.
Traditionally, poll workers tend to be older, retired people, which is the population most vulnerable to the coronavirus. The state is providing protective masks, gloves, and face shields for poll workers, along with disinfectants, other tools, and training. Voters will also be provided masks and gloves to help keep in-person voting safe. Polling booths are also being spaced where possible, and voters are being asked to socially distance themselves.