7,504 ballots were rejected in the special election with more than a third being rejected because of the state’s witness signature requirement, with rural Alaska and Anchorage seeing far higher rejection rates than other parts of the state.
The decision from the Division of Elections is almost certain to draw a legal challenge. Ballots are set to begin printing next week.
“No one has done more harm to the perception of (the Division of Elections) than the (Division of Elections) themselves this year.”
It seems like every week brings another story about how the Alaska Division of Elections is either mishandling, bungling or biasing this year’s elections because every week does, in fact, bring another story about how the Alaska Division of Elections is either mishandling, bungling or biasing this year’s elections.
The move left Democrat-backed independent candidate Suzanne LaFrance off the ballot.
The court seemed skeptical that it would be impossible to reprint the ballots in time but ultimately said it’s fine to proceed as-is.
Alyse Galvin may very well prove her voter registration should be on the general election ballot but because the state hid the change until the last possible minute, it may not.
Henderson noted that lack of an explanation in today’s order, saying the state “has not thus far asserted any meaningful or cogent reason for not including this information on the current general election ballot.”
Trust that our elections will be free and fair is the foundation of democracy. We’re not nearly that close to a collapse in Alaska, but it sure feels like the foundation is being chipped away.
The state has refused to waive the measure on its own.