Elections

Deborah Moody, an administrative clerk at the Alaska Division of Elections office in Anchorage, Alaska, looks at an oversized booklet explaining election changes in the state on Jan. 21, 2022. Alaska elections will be held for the first time this year under a voter-backed system that scraps party primaries and sends the top four vote-getters regardless of party to the general election, where ranked choice voting will be used to determine a winner. No other state conducts its elections with that same combination. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

How Alaska’s unique new election system works

Here is a closer look at what’s happening in Alaska.

Deborah Moody, an administrative clerk at the Alaska Division of Elections office in Anchorage, Alaska, looks at an oversized booklet explaining election changes in the state on Jan. 21, 2022. Alaska elections will be held for the first time this year under a voter-backed system that scraps party primaries and sends the top four vote-getters regardless of party to the general election, where ranked choice voting will be used to determine a winner. No other state conducts its elections with that same combination. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
The Alaska Redistricting Board’s decision to pair District 21 (teal) and District 22 (purple) into one senate district is the subject of a lawsuit from East Anchorage residents of District 21. An Anchorage Superior Court heard the first arguments in that case on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, part of several lawsuits against the Redistricting Board that have been consolidated into a single case. (Screenshot / Alaska Redistricting Board)

First arguments heard in Redistricting Board lawsuits

Arguments resume Monday.

The Alaska Redistricting Board’s decision to pair District 21 (teal) and District 22 (purple) into one senate district is the subject of a lawsuit from East Anchorage residents of District 21. An Anchorage Superior Court heard the first arguments in that case on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, part of several lawsuits against the Redistricting Board that have been consolidated into a single case. (Screenshot / Alaska Redistricting Board)
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State high court upholds voter-approved election changes

A brief order affirmed a lower court ruling from last year.

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Former Alaska lawmaker Jason Grenn holds an Alaska Division of Elections brochure explaining ranked choice voting at his office in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. Grenn was sponsor of a ballot initiative passed by Alaska voters in 2020 that would end party primaries and send the top four vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, to the general election, where ranked-choice voting would determine a consensus winner. The model is unique among states and viewed by supporters as a way to encourage civility and cooperation among elected officials. The Alaska Supreme Court is set to hear arguments over the system Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Election overhaul in Alaska aimed at reducing partisanship

The model is unique among states.

Former Alaska lawmaker Jason Grenn holds an Alaska Division of Elections brochure explaining ranked choice voting at his office in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. Grenn was sponsor of a ballot initiative passed by Alaska voters in 2020 that would end party primaries and send the top four vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, to the general election, where ranked-choice voting would determine a consensus winner. The model is unique among states and viewed by supporters as a way to encourage civility and cooperation among elected officials. The Alaska Supreme Court is set to hear arguments over the system Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
This combination image shows photos from stories that defined 2021. Top left, Vanessa Dickinson adjusts second grade student Kanani Dickinson’s glasses ahead of the first day of school. Top middle, doses of COVID-19 vaccination await arms during a vaccine clinic. Top right, a cruise ship looms large over downtown Juneau. Middle left, a sign marks the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area as part of the Tongass National Forest. Middle, the bygone calendar year is written in the sand. Middle right, Alan Salsman receives the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from VA nurse Michael Addo at Coast Guard Station Juneau. Bottom left, School board member Emil Mackey casts a ballot in Juneau’s municipal election. Bottom middle, the Alaska State Capitol stands behind a statue of William H. Seward. Bottom left, Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks during a sitdown in the Empire offices. (Juneau Empire Photos, Engin Akyurt / Unsplash)

The stories that shaped our 2021

Some loom large in 2022, too.

This combination image shows photos from stories that defined 2021. Top left, Vanessa Dickinson adjusts second grade student Kanani Dickinson’s glasses ahead of the first day of school. Top middle, doses of COVID-19 vaccination await arms during a vaccine clinic. Top right, a cruise ship looms large over downtown Juneau. Middle left, a sign marks the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area as part of the Tongass National Forest. Middle, the bygone calendar year is written in the sand. Middle right, Alan Salsman receives the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from VA nurse Michael Addo at Coast Guard Station Juneau. Bottom left, School board member Emil Mackey casts a ballot in Juneau’s municipal election. Bottom middle, the Alaska State Capitol stands behind a statue of William H. Seward. Bottom left, Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks during a sitdown in the Empire offices. (Juneau Empire Photos, Engin Akyurt / Unsplash)
Nick Begich III, seen here in this undated photo, is challenging Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives saying Alaska needs new energy in Washington D.C. (Courtesy photo / Alaskans for Nick Begich)

Nick Begich III touts fiscal conservatism in U.S. House race

Young is old.

Nick Begich III, seen here in this undated photo, is challenging Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives saying Alaska needs new energy in Washington D.C. (Courtesy photo / Alaskans for Nick Begich)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, speaks to reporters after filing for re-election Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, at the Division of Elections office in Anchorage, Alaska, setting up a race against a primary challenger endorsed by former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
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Murkowski makes candidacy official

‘A feud from outside.’

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, speaks to reporters after filing for re-election Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, at the Division of Elections office in Anchorage, Alaska, setting up a race against a primary challenger endorsed by former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
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Capitol

Rep. Young faces Republican challenger in reelection bid

Young remains undefeated.

Capitol
This March 2020 photo shows Juneau’s City Hall. On Tuesday, the canvass review board certified the 2021 municipal election results. The final results did not reflect any significant changes over the preliminary results that were released last Friday. (Peter Segall /Juneau Empire File)

City officials certify election

Final count closely mirrors preliminary numbers

This March 2020 photo shows Juneau’s City Hall. On Tuesday, the canvass review board certified the 2021 municipal election results. The final results did not reflect any significant changes over the preliminary results that were released last Friday. (Peter Segall /Juneau Empire File)
Election workers Nora Laughlin and Bob Laurie man the City Hall election station on the last day of voting for Juneau's municipal election, Oct. 5, 2021. On Friday, results started to roll in with more expected Monday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Update: Continuing count shuffles early results

With almost 70% of the vote counted, results remain unofficial

Election workers Nora Laughlin and Bob Laurie man the City Hall election station on the last day of voting for Juneau's municipal election, Oct. 5, 2021. On Friday, results started to roll in with more expected Monday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire Sarah Traiger drops off a ballot at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library vote center on Tuesday, the last day to cast a ballot in the City and Borough of Juneau’s 2021 municipal election.

Local election wraps up —results expected Friday

Nearly 5,000 ballots had already been mailed in by last weekend.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire Sarah Traiger drops off a ballot at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library vote center on Tuesday, the last day to cast a ballot in the City and Borough of Juneau’s 2021 municipal election.
A voter casts his ballot in Juneau’s municipal election at the Douglas Library on Sept. 23. All ballots must be returned to the city by 8 p.m. on election day, Oct. 5. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Local election moves to high gear as ballots roll in

Voters are casting ballots

A voter casts his ballot in Juneau’s municipal election at the Douglas Library on Sept. 23. All ballots must be returned to the city by 8 p.m. on election day, Oct. 5. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
A proposal from the Alaska Redistricting Board would substantially change Juneau's legislative districts. One of the latest proposals, seen here, would put parts of Auke Bay and the Mendenhall Valley in the same district as downtown Juneau and Douglas Island. The Northern Lynn Canal communities of Haines, Skagway and Kluckwan would be placed in the same district as the Mendenhall Valley. (Courtesy image / Alaska Redistricting Board)

Hitting the road: Redistricting maps to be shown in local hearings

Redistricting roadshow.

A proposal from the Alaska Redistricting Board would substantially change Juneau's legislative districts. One of the latest proposals, seen here, would put parts of Auke Bay and the Mendenhall Valley in the same district as downtown Juneau and Douglas Island. The Northern Lynn Canal communities of Haines, Skagway and Kluckwan would be placed in the same district as the Mendenhall Valley. (Courtesy image / Alaska Redistricting Board)
This photo shows Juneau School District Board of Education candidates listed on a City and Borough of Juneau municipal election ballot. A review of court records by the Juneau Empire found candidates Ibn Bailey and Thomas Buzard have had protective orders sought against them. The order against Buzard was not granted. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Record review shows legal woes for school board hopefuls

Candidates respond to the record.

This photo shows Juneau School District Board of Education candidates listed on a City and Borough of Juneau municipal election ballot. A review of court records by the Juneau Empire found candidates Ibn Bailey and Thomas Buzard have had protective orders sought against them. The order against Buzard was not granted. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This March 2020 phgoto shows Juneau's City Hall. On Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly OK'd extending local mitigation measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire File)
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Assembly candidates square off in annual forum

Read candidate answers to the questions.

This March 2020 phgoto shows Juneau's City Hall. On Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly OK'd extending local mitigation measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire File)
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Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File A voter leaves the assembly chambers in City Hall after voting in the Oct. 6, 2020, municipal election, which was primarily conducted via mail. Next month’s election will also be conducted mostly by mail with ballots counted in Anchorage. On Monday night, assembly members approved $700,000 to renovate a local warehouse and purchase equipment to count ballots locally.

City approves new ballot-counting center

City ok’s $700,000 to renovate warehouse

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File A voter leaves the assembly chambers in City Hall after voting in the Oct. 6, 2020, municipal election, which was primarily conducted via mail. Next month’s election will also be conducted mostly by mail with ballots counted in Anchorage. On Monday night, assembly members approved $700,000 to renovate a local warehouse and purchase equipment to count ballots locally.
A completed ballot is dropped into the ballot drop box in the Don D. Statter Harbor parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

WATCH: Municipal candidate forum

School board, Assembly candidates talk issues ahead of Oct. 5 election.

A completed ballot is dropped into the ballot drop box in the Don D. Statter Harbor parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
In this Juneau Empire file photo, voter Maralee Guiher drops off her ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Election on Oct. 6, 2020. The city announced Wednesday it was looking to hire election workers for this year's city elections. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

City looking to hire workers for election

Variety of jobs.

In this Juneau Empire file photo, voter Maralee Guiher drops off her ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Election on Oct. 6, 2020. The city announced Wednesday it was looking to hire election workers for this year's city elections. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
Juneau Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale, pictured here in November 2020. The school board’s decision to prevent the basketball team from going to the Region V state tournament because of a district policy that precluded traveling to regions with high levels of coronavirus risk is one of the issues that prompted Kyle Scholl to run as a write-in candidate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Write-in candidate seeks school board seat

Board decision on basketball tourney sparks run

Juneau Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale, pictured here in November 2020. The school board’s decision to prevent the basketball team from going to the Region V state tournament because of a district policy that precluded traveling to regions with high levels of coronavirus risk is one of the issues that prompted Kyle Scholl to run as a write-in candidate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Kelly Fishler

Get to know a candiate: Kelly Fishler

She’s running for the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly District 1 seat.

Kelly Fishler