How to vote on November 3
Polls are open 7:00am to 8:00pm on Election Day. You can also vote early in person starting October 19, or get a ballot by mail. This is a state election run by the Alaska Division of Elections, so it works differently from the city's vote-by-mail elections in April.
Key dates
- Sun, Oct 4 Last day to register to vote (30 days before the election)
- Mon, Oct 19 Early and absentee in-person voting starts
- Mon, Oct 19 Applications open for a ballot by fax or online delivery
- Sat, Oct 24 Mail ballot applications must be received
- Mon, Nov 2 Fax or online delivery applications close at 5:00pm
- Tue, Nov 3 Election Day. Polls are open 7:00am to 8:00pm, and mailed ballots must be postmarked by this date
- Wed, Nov 18 Final ranked-choice count and unofficial results
Ways to vote
On Election Day
Go to your assigned polling place between 7:00am and 8:00pm on Tuesday, November 3. Find it with the state's polling place finder or the voter portal.
Bring one form of ID. Any of these works:
- Voter ID card
- Driver’s license
- State ID card
- Current and valid photo ID
- Passport
- Military ID
- Birth certificate
- Hunting or fishing license
Or an original document with your name and current address: current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, other government document (includes Tribal IDs).
Early, in person
Starting October 19 you can vote at an early voting site. These sites have ballots for every district, so you don't have to go to your own polling place.
- Anchorage City Hall 632 W. 6th Ave. October 19 to November 2Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm (no weekends)
- Midtown Mall 600 E Northern Lights Blvd October 19 to November 2Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pmSaturdays, 10:00am to 4:00pmSundays, 12:00pm to 4:00pmElection Day, November 3, 7:00am to 8:00pm
- Southcentral Foundation 4341 Tudor Centre Dr October 27 to November 39:00am to 4:00pm
- UAA Student Union 2921 Spirit Dr (downstairs) Election Day only, November 3, 7:00am to 8:00pm
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport First floor, level one from the parking garage Election Day only, November 3, 7:00am to 8:00pm
Hours as of September 18. Pamphlet p. 11 (PDF)
By mail
Apply for a mail ballot so the Division receives your application by October 24. The fastest way is the online application. Your ballot has to be postmarked on or before Election Day.
By fax or online delivery
Apply between October 19 and 5:00pm on November 2. Return your ballot by mail (postmarked by Election Day) or by fax (received by 8:00pm on Election Day).
How ranked-choice voting You can rank candidates in order: 1st choice, 2nd choice, and so on. If no one has more than half of the first choices, the last-place candidate is dropped and their voters' next choices are counted. That repeats until two are left, and the one with more votes wins. works
- Fill in one oval per candidate: your 1st choice in the first column, your 2nd in the next, and so on. You don't have to rank everyone.
- If a candidate gets more than half of the first choices, they win.
- If not, the candidate in last place is dropped. If you picked them, your vote moves to your next choice.
- That repeats until two candidates are left. The one with more votes wins.
If you only mark one candidate, your vote stays with them the whole way. Ballot measures and judges are a simple yes or no. First-choice results come out on election night, and the final count is November 18. Pamphlet p. 4 (PDF)
If something goes wrong
- Your name isn't on the list, or you don't have ID: you'll vote a questioned ballot. The Division checks your eligibility afterward and tells you in writing if it isn't fully counted.
- You make a mistake: don't erase it. Give the ballot to an election worker and ask for a new one. You can do that up to 3 times.
- You need help: you can bring anyone to help you vote, including in the booth, except a candidate, your employer, or an agent of your employer or union. Election workers can help too.
Questions? Call the Region II Elections Office (Anchorage) at (907) 522-8683 (toll free 1-866-958-8683), or the absentee office at (907) 270-2700. Pamphlet p. 14 (PDF)
Source: Official Election Pamphlet, Region II (Alaska Division of Elections). Looking for the April 7 city election? It's archived here.