Frequently Asked Questions
Vote at Home/Vote by Mail is a ballot delivery system where ballots are mailed to eligible voters at their mailing address, and voters can vote from the convenience of their homes. Vote at Home/Vote by Mail systems contrast to poll-based voting, where ballots are distributed to various polling locations. In the Anchorage Vote at Home/Vote by Mail system, voters have the option of returning their mailed ballots in several ways to a central location for counting.
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Voters may return their ballots by placing them in a secure drop box.
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Voters may return their ballots to an Anchorage Vote Center.
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Voters may return their ballot by mail through the U.S. Postal Service using first class postage.
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Vote at Home/Vote by Mail elections are secure. The Municipal Clerk's Office takes election security seriously and helps to keep elections secure by:
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Not connecting election equipment containing confidential voter information to the internet.
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Checking that all signatures match those in State of Alaska voter records.
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Emptying secure drop boxes often.
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Training workers to securely handle voting materials.
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Locking up voting materials.
Voters can also help to keep elections secure by:
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Keeping their ballots safe.
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Tearing ballots in half before throwing them away, if not voting.
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Following the instructions on the ballot and envelope.
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Reading the voter declaration and signing the return envelope.
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Responding to letters, phone calls, and emails from election officials.
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Reporting concerns to election officials right away.
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Ballot envelopes are assigned a unique barcode for each individual voter. Upon return, only one ballot envelope from any voter is accepted - the first one in. Others are rejected. Ballots in an envelope with no barcode are rejected. Voting more than once in the same election, with the intent that your vote be counted more than once, is voter misconduct in the second degree under Anchorage Municipal Code section 28.200.120A.3., which is a class A misdemeanor.
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Every return ballot envelope must be signed by the voter, and each signature is validated based on official signatures already on file with the State of Alaska – e.g. the voter's registration document, prior election ballot envelopes, motor vehicle transactions, PFD application, etc. Election officials who adjudicate signatures are trained with techniques used to identify matches and forgeries.
If two trained election officials agree that the signature doesn't match, the voter is contacted by mail and provided an opportunity to cure the discrepancy. This cure opportunity period extends until the Public Session of Canvass (between 10 and 17 days after Election Day) to allow all valid votes to be counted.
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No. Ballots are mailed only to active registered voters who reside in Anchorage. The question of U.S. citizenship is handled during the voter registration process – only citizens of the U.S. who are residents of Anchorage, Alaska, may register to vote in a municipal election. This process occurs long before ballots are mailed.
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Your ballot is not forwarded to your new address, but each signature on a returned ballot envelope is reviewed by two trained election officials to ensure that your ballot isn't voted by another person. If you move, forget to update your voter registration, and don't receive your ballot in the mail, you can call our Voter Hotline at 907-243-VOTE (8683) to request a ballot package to be mailed to your new address. You will be required to fill out an application and provide a signature so we can verify your identity. When a new ballot package is issued to you, your previous ballot package will be voided, which is another way for election officials to tell that if it is returned, it wasn't voted by you.
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What happens if someone receives a ballot for someone who doesn't live at the address anymore?
Please mark any ballot packages for people not at your address, "RETURN TO SENDER!" This is the first step in updating the voter registration list so
ballots are not mailed to those voters unless they update their voter registration. Those voters can still vote in person or request a ballot to a temporary address. You may also tear up these ballot packages, but that will not update the voter list and these voters will continue to be mailed a ballot at that address. Thanks for helping us update the voter registration list and keep Anchorage elections safe and secure!
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Regular Municipal Elections
Regular Municipal Elections are held every year on the first Tuesday in April.
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To vote in this election, you must be:
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Qualified to vote in State of Alaska elections.
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Registered to vote at an address within the Municipality of Anchorage for at least 30 days before Election Day.
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You must be 18 years of age or older on Election Day in order to vote.
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This election will be a Vote at Home/Vote by Mail election.
Your ballot package will be mailed to you approximately three weeks before Election Day, giving you time to carefully research the candidates and ballot questions, mark the ballot, and return it in time for the ballot to be counted. You may return your ballot to a secure drop box, to an Anchorage Vote Center, or mail it with first class postage. Additional instructions about how to vote your mailed ballot will be included in the ballot package.
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You may vote at an Anchorage Vote Center by:
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Dropping off your ballot return envelope containing your marked ballot.
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Taking your unmarked ballot package to an Anchorage Vote Center and marking your ballot in a voting booth.
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Voting in-person in a voting booth if you lose, damage, or do not receive your mailed ballot.
In all cases, marked ballots are placed in a ballot return envelope and a secure ballot box for processing.
Locations and hours are posted on the
Voter Information page.
Traditional precinct polling locations are not open and are not an option for voting on Election Day.
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You may access help with voting questions by:
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Calling the Voter Hotline at 907-243-VOTE (8683);
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Visiting the MOA Election Center at 619 East Ship Creek Avenue, Door D, on the east side of the building; or
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Visiting an Anchorage Vote Center (during the election).
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The last day for MOA Elections to accept ballot return envelopes
postmarked on or before Election Day is the Public Session of Canvass (on or before the third Friday after Election Day) for most voters. For overseas voters, the last day for MOA Elections to accept ballot return envelopes
postmarked on or before Election Day is the day of certification of the election.
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The numbers reported on Election Night will include all ballot return envelopes that were received through the mail, at an Anchorage Vote Center, and in the secure drop boxes by the morning of Election Day, depending on how much we are able to process. All other ballot return envelopes voted at an Anchorage Vote Center on Election Day, or dropped off at a secure drop box after mid-morning on Election Day will most likely be processed after Election Day and will be reported in updated results in the subsequent days.
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There will be only one set of numbers reported at or after about 8:30 p.m. on Election Night.
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When is a recount required?
Anchorage Municipal Code section 28.90.025C. specifies that the Municipal Clerk shall initiate a recount in three circumstances:
1. a candidate wins by less than 0.5% margin;
2. when a runoff election is required between the top two candidates and the second and third place candidates are separated by less than 0.5%; or
3. a proposition or measure passes or fails by less than a 0.5% margin.
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Ballots
Ballot packages will be mailed at least 21 days before Election Day.
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Every ballot package will contain:
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an official ballot;
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a secrecy sleeve;
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voter instructions; and
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a ballot return envelope.
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If you lose or do not receive your ballot package in the mail, call the Voter Hotline at 907-243-VOTE (8683) to request a replacement ballot package as soon as possible. Replacement ballot packages may not be mailed less than seven days before Election Day.
You may also visit an Anchorage Vote Center to vote. You must have proper identification to vote in person at an Anchorage Vote Center.
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You must register to vote or update your registration at least 30 days before Election Day. Make sure the residence address on file with the State of Alaska Division of Elections is where you currently reside, and that the mailing address is where you receive your mail. Ballot packages will not be forwarded.
To check your voter registration information, visit the State of Alaska Division of Elections at
myvoterinformation.alaska.gov, call 907-522-VOTE (8683), or go to the State of Alaska Region II Elections Office at 2525 Gambell Street, Suite 100.
(Due to COVID-19 concerns, we recommend calling before visiting this facility.)
To update your voter registration information, visit the State of Alaska Division of Elections at
voterregistration.alaska.gov, call 907-522-VOTE (8683), or go to the State of Alaska Region II Elections Office at 2525 Gambell Street, Suite 100.
(Due to COVID-19 concerns, we recommend calling before visiting this facility.)
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If you move after the 30-day deadline, call the Voter Hotline at 907-243-VOTE (8683) and you will be given instructions to go to an Anchorage Vote Center to vote. You will be offered a Questioned Ballot so election officials can capture your new address to update the voter registration database.
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Ballot packages will be mailed at least 21 days before Election Day. If you want to receive your ballot package at a temporary address rather than your regular mailing address, complete the Application to Vote at a Temporary Address and return it to MOA Elections no later than 5:00 p.m. AKDT seven days before Election Day. The Application to Vote at a Temporary Address will be posted on the
Voter Information page around December 1 of each year. Or, call the Voter Hotline at 907-243-VOTE (8683) for more information.
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Ballot packages will be mailed at least 21 days before Election Day. If you will be out of the country and you will not be able to receive your mail in time to return your ballot - and you are able to send and receive an email or fax - call the
Voter Hotline at 907-243-VOTE (8683) to request an Application to Vote by Fax or Email. Applications to vote by fax or email are due to MOA Elections no later than 5:00 p.m. AKDT seven days before Election Day. Applications received after this date will be processed subject to availability of staff and resources, through 5:00 p.m. AKDT the day before Election Day. Or, call the Voter Hotline at 907-243-VOTE (8683) for more information.
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A Questioned Ballot is a voted ballot that has been segregated because the voter's information is not the same as the information in the Voter Registration Database. The voter places the voted ballot into the secrecy sleeve, places both in the voter's ballot return envelope, reads and signs the Voter Declaration, and places everything in a Questioned Ballot Envelope. Election Officials review and verify information on the Questioned Ballot Envelope to determine whether to accept, partially accept, or provisionally reject the ballot.
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Possible reasons a voter would need to vote a Questioned Ballot:
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What is a Special Needs Ballot?
A Special Needs Ballot is a ballot delivered to a person who can not vote their mailed ballot or replacement ballot and is unable to go to an Anchorage Vote Center due to disability or illness. The Special Needs Ballot is delivered by a Special Needs Representative who must meet certain code requirements and provide identifying information. A Special Needs Ballot is placed in a Special Needs Envelope and is processed according to Anchorage Municipal Code section 28.60.040.
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Who could vote a Special Needs Ballot??
Voters who are elderly, have a disability, are hospitalized, are sick, or have a positive COVID test, may vote a Special Needs Ballot. A voter who needs a Special Needs Ballot delivered may send a Special Needs Representative to an Anchorage Vote Center or the Election Center to pick up a Special Needs Ballot, or may call the Voter Hotline at 907-243-VOTE (8683) to request a Special Needs Ballot to be delivered to the voter. As long as the request is made with sufficient time, Election Officials or the Special Needs Representative will deliver a ballot to the voter, allow the voter to vote in privacy, and return the ballot to the Vote Center or Election Center. For further information on this process, please call the Voter Hotline.
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When could I request a Special Needs Ballot??
Voters or their representative may request a Special Needs Ballot any time after ballots have been mailed out and preferably no later than the day before Election Day. If you have any questions and you need assistance, call the Voter Hotline at 907-243-VOTE (8683).
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Yes. You must apply to vote by fax or email. Call the Voter Hotline at 907-243-VOTE (8683) to request an Application to Vote by Fax or Email. Complete and return the application to MOA Elections by 5:00 p.m. AKDT seven days before Election Day. Instructions are included with the application. Applications received after this date will be processed subject to the availability off staff and resources, through 5:00 p.m. AKDT the day before Election Day.
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Mark your ballot using a black or blue pen, completely filling in the oval beside the selection of your choice. Instructions for marking your ballot are shown on the ballot.
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The ballot contains instructions about how to correct mistakes while marking your ballot. If you make a mistake on your ballot, you can correct it by striking through the oval
and the candidate's name or proposition answer that you do not want to vote for, and filling in the oval beside the candidate or proposition you do wish to vote for, as shown in the example below.
If you wish to invalidate your vote without making an alternate choice, you must vote and strike through more than one oval
and candidate name or proposition answer, as shown in the example below.
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You may choose one of three methods to return your ballot.
Save postage and:
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Place your ballot return envelope in a secure drop box.
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Take your ballot return envelope to an Anchorage Vote Center.
Or:
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Take your ballot return envelope with first class postage to a U.S. Post Office.
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How do I know MOA Elections received my ballot return envelopes?
The MOA envelope sorting machine provides information on which voters' envelopes have been received and processed. The information is available to the public the day after the envelope was received and processed. To find out if MOA Elections received your ballot return envelope, call the Voter Hotline at 907-243-VOTE (8683).
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Does BallotTrax use sensitive voter data?
Because they do not consume any sensitive data such as the last four of a social security number or driver's license/id number, BallotTrax cannot positively identify a voter. We do not consider the ballot status updates we provide on the BallotTrax portal to be sensitive information if someone were to log in to another voters portal as anyone can do a records request with the state and find out if voters have voted in elections. Please understand that your, phone number and/or email information is hidden after entry.
Anchorage Vote Centers
An Anchorage Vote Center is a location where you can get voter services. Voters may come to an AVC to deliver a completed mailed ballot return envelope, vote in person if their mailed ballot was lost or damaged or if they did not receive one in the mail, vote a questioned ballot, receive voting assistance, and get help with other voter questions.
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Specific hours for the Regular Municipal Election will be posted in early January of each year on the
Voter Information webpage.
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At an Anchorage Vote Center, you may:
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Return your mail ballot.
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Vote in person.
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Receive voting assistance.
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Access help for other voter questions.
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Register to vote.
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Vote a Questioned Ballot.
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You have two options for returning the ballot you receive in the mail to an Anchorage Vote Center:
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You may drop off your ballot return envelope containing your marked ballot, or
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You may take your unmarked ballot package to an Anchorage Vote Center and mark your ballot in a voting booth.
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Acceptable forms of identification include:
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a signed voter card
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a State of Alaska driver's license
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a State of Alaska I.D. card
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a military I.D. card
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a passport
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a hunting or fishing license
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other current or valid photo identification
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other identification acceptable in State of Alaska elections
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No, you must mark your ballot at the Anchorage Vote Center at the time it is issued and place it into the ballot box on-site.
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Secure Drop Boxes
A secure drop box is a secure container where voters may place their return envelope containing their marked ballots.
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Sites, including addresses and photos, of secure drop boxes placed for the regular and special municipal elections can be found on the
Voter Information webpage.
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Secure drop boxes will be open 24 hours, 7 days-a-week beginning approximately 3 weeks before Election Day.
Secure drop boxes will be closed at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Voters in line at a secure drop box
by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day will be allowed to drop off their ballots.
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Ballot Processing
How are signatures verified on the ballot envelopes?
The Municipal Code, AMC 28.70.030C., specifies how trained election officials are required to verify signatures on the ballot return envelopes.
First, the signature on the voter declaration on the ballot return envelope must be compared with the signature(s) for the voter in the voter's voter registration file using the standards described below. Election officials shall be trained in the signature verification process prior to actually comparing any signatures. Training shall include techniques used to identify matches and forgeries.
Second, the standards to compare signatures include the following:
1. The signature on a voter declaration may not be rejected solely because the signature is not dated, unless the date is necessary to validate the timeliness of the ballot.
2. The signature on a voter declaration may not be rejected solely because the name in the signature is a variation of the name on the voter registration record.
3. The following characteristics shall be utilized to evaluate signatures to determine whether they are by the same writer:
a. Agreement in style and general appearance, including basic construction, skill, alignment, fluency, and a general uniformity and consistency between signatures;
b. Agreement in the proportions of individual letters, height to width, and heights of the upper to lower case letters;
c. Irregular spacing, slants, or sizes of letters that are duplicated in both signatures;
d. After considering the general traits, agreement of the most distinctive, unusual traits of the signatures.
4. A single distinctive trait is insufficient to conclude that the signatures are by the same writer. There must be a combination or cluster of shared characteristics. Likewise, there must be a cluster of differences to conclude that the signatures are by different writers.
5. For signature lines marked, but not signed by a voter, the same attributes applicable to a voter's signature, above, may also be applied to a witness's signature, if challenged. If the witness does not have a signature in the state voter registration database, the municipality may rely on other signatures reasonably known to the municipality to be the witness's.
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What if the signature is missing or if the signature on the ballot return envelope cannot be verified?
The Municipal Code, AMC 28.70.030D., specifies what MOA Elections is required to do if the signature is missing or if the signature on a ballot return envelope cannot be verified.
First, if after signature verification, a signature is missing or determined to be invalid, Election Officials designated by the municipal clerk shall, within three business days of initial adjudication of the envelope, send a letter to the voter explaining the lack of a valid signature. The letter shall be sent to the address to which the ballot was mailed and it shall ask the voter to either
a. Fill out the form included with the letter and return the form to the municipality at the address specified on the form; or
b. Come to the location identified in the letter and present valid identification to an election official and sign a form provided by the municipality authenticating the envelope.
If the authentication is still determined to be invalid, the voter shall be notified in writing that their ballot is rejected.
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Does the Municipality of Anchorage use Dominion Voting Systems?
Yes, the Municipality has used Dominion Voting Systems for our general election management and tabulation system since at least 2007.
First, since 2007, the Municipality has never had reason to doubt that the Dominion products purchased by the Municipality are correctly performing to accurately tabulate ballots for municipal elections. The Municipality, like other jurisdictions, has security measures in place to confirm that the voting systems are performing accurately. The Municipal Clerk's Office has conducted one hand count and several recounts since 2007: in 2012 (recount of 15 precincts), 2013 (Ernie Hall/Nick Moe hand count), 2016 (recount of Prop 9 - Girdwood police), 2020 (recount of Prop 1 – Life Safety Access Roads), and 2021 (recounts of two school board races) - none of which changed the outcome of these races or propositions.
Second, the Municipality and the State of Alaska Division of Elections use the same Dominion tabulation system. On Wednesday, November 18, 2020, Alaska Lt. Governor Kevin Meyer stated that, “we have not seen anything that looks like fraud or looks weird or looks like an irregularity" regarding the state's November 3, 2020 general election. The MOA Elections Team considers itself a partner with the State of Alaska Division of Elections; State Division of Elections staff participated on the MOA's RFP review team prior to the MOA's upgrade of the system in 2017.
Finally, the MOA, through its Office of Information Technology (OIT) participates in “EL-ISAC" which provides confidential and classified alerts and training to OIT and MOA elections staff on election security. The Election Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council Executive Committee, comprised of the assistant director of Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the chair of the US Election Assistance Commission, the president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, the president of the National Association of State Election Directors, and the Escambia County (Florida) supervisor of elections, along with the Election Infrastructure Sector Coordinating Council, issued a statement after the November 2020 general election and found that “There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised." (https://www.cisa.gov/news/2020/11/12/joint-statement-elections-infrastructure-government-coordinating-council-election.) There is additional information about election security on the CISA website at
https://www.cisa.gov/rumorcontrol, and Dominion comments at
https://www.dominionvoting.com/.
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Voter Registration
Register to vote by:
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using the State of Alaska Voter Registration System (OLVR) online system, or
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completing and mailing the
voter registration form to the State of Alaska Division of Elections (instructions on page 2 of form), or
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completing the State of Alaska
voter registration form available at the following locations:
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State of
Alaska, Division of
ElectionsRegion II Office
RAM Building
2525 Gambell Street, Suite 100
Anchorage, Alaska 99503 (Due to COVID-19 concerns, we recommend calling before visiting this facility.)
907-522-8683
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, except holidays -
Office of the Municipal Clerk
632 W. 6th Avenue, Suite 250
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
907-343-4311
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, except holidays -
Anchorage Municipal
Libraries
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Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles
Offices - You may complete a voter registration
form when you apply for or renew your State of Alaska driver's license or I.D.
For more information, call 907-522-VOTE (8683).
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You must be registered to vote at least 30 days before Election Day.
For more information, call 907-522-VOTE (8683).
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If you are under 18 years of age, you may register to vote anytime in the 90-day period before your 18th birthday. If you are 18 years of age or older, you may register to vote at any time.
For more information, call 907-522-VOTE (8683).
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If your residence address has changed, update your registration with the State of Alaska Division of Elections as soon as possible by visiting the
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State of Alaska Voter Registration System (OLVR) online, or
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Alaska Region II Elections Office in person at 2525 Gambell Street, Suite 100. (Due to COVID-19 concerns, we recommend calling before visiting this facility.)
If your residence address changes less than 30 days before an election, your mailed ballot package will not be forwarded to your new address. See the What do I do if I move after the 30-day registration deadline? question above.
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Cancel your voter registration:
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online, at the State of Alaska Division of Elections Website, Cancel Your Alaska Voter Registration
webpage;
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in person, at the Alaska Region II Elections Office, 2525 Gambell Street, Suite 100
(Due to COVID-19 concerns, we recommend calling before visiting this facility.); or
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by phone, call 907-522-VOTE (8683).
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In the mid-2010s, the Anchorage Assembly asked the Municipal Clerk's Office to explore ways to increase the number of citizens voting and address other identified elections challenges, including: aging election equipment, retiring election workers, difficulty in finding suitable space, increasing security concerns, and low public engagement and turnout. In the three states and dozens of local communities that have changed to Vote at Home/Vote by Mail elections, voter turnout has markedly increased in most of those jurisdictions.
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At the Assembly’s direction, the Clerk’s Office formed a Stakeholder Group in 2015. Initially the group was comprised of about a dozen people representing a diverse group of Anchorage citizens, but the group grew to over 50 members representing businesses, non-profits, and others interested in elections. After 15 months of research and public outreach, the Stakeholder Group recommended Vote at Home/Vote by Mail to the Anchorage Assembly as the best way to increase voter participation and save community resources.
On March 8, 2016, the Assembly introduced a change to municipal code to allow voting by mail. A public hearing was held and on March 22, 2016, the Assembly approved the change which established Vote by Mail as the method of choice for Municipal elections. The first Vote at Home/Vote by Mail election was held in 2018. (Vote by Mail Final Report, March 2019)
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What are the voter turnout statistics for the last ten years?
Election Date
|
Method of Election |
Total Registered Voters |
Total Cards Cast (voters) |
Percentage |
Election Type |
6/21/2022
|
Vote at Home/by Mail
|
36,655
|
4,548
|
12.41%
|
Special
|
4/5/2022
| Vote at Home/by Mail
|
235,882
|
70,639
|
29.95%
|
Regular
|
10/21/2021
|
Vote at Home/by Mail
|
42,528
|
10,813
|
25.43%
|
Special
|
5/11/2021
|
Vote at Home/by Mail
|
236,777
|
90,816
|
38.36%
|
Runoff
|
4/6/2021
|
Vote at Home/by Mail
|
236,619
|
75,441
|
31.88%
|
Regular/Mayoral
|
|
4/7/2020 |
Vote at Home/by Mail
|
232,009 |
71,382 |
30.77% |
Regular |
|
4/2/2019 |
Vote at Home/by Mail |
227,210 |
65,100 |
28.65% |
Regular |
|
8/7/2018 |
Vote at Home/by Mail |
42,537 |
8,601 |
20.22% |
Special |
|
4/3/2018 |
Vote at Home/by Mail |
218,388 |
79,295 |
36.31% |
Regular/Mayoral |
|
4/4/2017 |
Poll-based |
212,782 |
49,370 |
23.20% |
Regular |
|
4/5/2016 |
Poll-based |
209,909 |
51,999 |
24.77% |
Regular |
|
5/5/2015 |
Poll-based |
206,993 |
67,379 |
32.55% |
Runoff |
|
4/7/2015 |
Poll-based |
206,033 |
53,963 |
26.19% |
Regular/Mayoral |
|
4/1/2014 |
Poll-based |
199,606 |
46,890 |
23.49% |
Regular |
|
4/2/2013 |
Poll-based |
210,150 |
42,344 |
20.15% |
Regular |
|
4/3/2012 |
Poll-based |
198,512 |
71,099 |
35.82% |
Regular/Mayoral |
|
4/5/2011 |
Poll-based |
197,420 |
45,200 |
22.90% |
Regular |
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What is the cost of Vote at Home/Vote by Mail elections compared to poll-based elections?
Vote at Home/Vote by Mail elections cost more than poll-based elections because of increased ballot printing costs and added postage costs, since all qualified, registered voters are mailed a ballot package. However, there are also cost reductions due to the need for fewer election workers (about 60 instead of 650), less equipment to purchase and maintain, rental of fewer locations (3-6 instead of 122), and thus decreased security requirements.
With the increase in cost comes an increase in voters – in the four regular Vote at Home/Vote by Mail elections, an average of 72,554 people participated in the MOA elections (See Voter Turnout Statistics above; [75,441+71,382+64,100+79,295]/4). In the last four regular poll-based elections, an average of only 55,677 voters participated in MOA elections (See Voter Turnout Statistics above; [49,370+51,999+67,379+53,963]/4). It is difficult to quantify the cost benefit of the increase in voter turnout in Municipal elections; this increase in voter turnout was the primary driver for the Assembly in 2015 to move to a Vote at Home/Vote at Mail system.
The actual elections costs for 2014 through 2021 are shown inthis document. Vote at Home/Vote by Mail elections began in 2018. The 2014 through 2017 costs are for poll-based elections. The average cost for the final four years of poll-based elections was $519,454. The average cost for four Vote at Home/Vote by Mail elections held between 2018 and 2021 was $647,206.
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