During the city’s first vote-by-mail election last October, voters sent back nearly 12,000 ballots, representing a turnout of about 43% —the largest voter turn out since 2000.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
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<\/a>This photo shows a ballot for the City and Borough of Juneau’s 2021 municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt \/ Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Getting results<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t McEwen said that she aims to have preliminary results available and posted online the evening of Friday, Oct. 8.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t “If all the stars are in our favor, that’s our plan,” she said. “If not, we will have them posted on Oct. 11.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t The canvass review board will convene on Oct. 19 to certify the election results. However, McEwen noted that city rules allow the meeting to be delayed by a day-at-a-time if needed.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Two write-in candidates vying for a seat on the school board could make the count more complex and add a wildcard to the counting operations.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Write-in candidates Will Muldoon and Ryan Scholl will not appear on the ballot but have been certified by the city clerk and are eligible to win if they receive enough votes. Muldoon filed for the election this week after some ballots had already been returned.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t [Second write-in candidate joins school board race<\/a><\/ins>]<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t McEwen said that it’s unusual to have write-in candidates. She explained that city code dictates when write-in votes get counted.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Because there are three open seats, the top two vote-getters won’t be affected by write-in candidates. However, depending on how many votes are cast for the third-place finisher, the write-in rules could come into play.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t She said she’s researching the process for counting write-in ballots using the machinery in place in Anchorage.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t How to vote<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t At the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Alaska Business Roundtable meeting Thursday, CBJ City Manager Rorie Watt said the vote-by-mail system is convenient and secure.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t “We’ve tried to make directions as clear as possible to make it as easy as possible for everyone to vote,” Watt said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Watt explained that voters have three options for returning their ballots—including returning it to one of the two secure ballot drop boxes available, bringing it to a vote center, or mailing it through the U.S. Postal Service.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Watt said that city staff members collect ballots from the drop boxes, located outside the Douglas Library and the Statter Harbor boat launch parking lot, each day.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t “The ballots go into big, sturdy boxes,” Watt said, adding that the system is very secure.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Voters in need of assistance can visit a Juneau Vote Center at City Hall or the Mendenhall Valley Public Library to request a new ballot, get a replacement, register to vote, or update the registration information for future elections.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t The City Hall Vote Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays through election day. Library hours vary and are available online.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t On election day, voters can visit either vote center to cast a ballot between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Change of heart?<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Voters who cast a ballot aren’t able to make changes once the ballots have been submitted.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t However, McEwen said those who complete a ballot but have not cast it can get a new one at a Juneau Vote Center.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t [Record review shows legal woes for school board hopefuls<\/a>]<\/ins><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t