March 1st is Super Tuesday. Alaska republicans will be voting in a presidential preference poll for who they want to be the next President of the United States. Suzanne Downing, Communications Director for the Alaska Republican Party in Anchorage, explains how it works.
“This is a presidential preference poll, it’s called. It’s not a caucus. You don’t go and stand around and argue with people and it’s not a state-run primary. What we do is put ballots in a box with our choice for president an then when our delegates go to the National Convention in July, they’re going to be bound by our vote,” said Downing.
In order to cast your ballot in the republican presidential preference poll, you must be registered as a republican. You can register in advance with the Alaska Division of Elections. Voters will also be able to register at polling locations. The voting runs from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Downing says there are two places to cast your ballot on the Southern Kenai Peninsula, in Anchor Point and in Homer.
“For District 31, Southwest Kenai Borough, we will have a voting place at the Trail Side Building which is 345 Sterling Highway in Homer and at the Anchor River Inn, which is 34358 Old Sterling Highway in Anchor Point,” said Downing.
Voters can cast their ballots out of district, but Downing says it may take longer for them to be counted back in their home district. The timing of Alaska’s presidential primary, in March, is important, says Downing.
“I think it’s important to know that if we did it in a state primary in August, we would have done it after the national convention and our votes wouldn’t count. So this way we do it in March, then we pick our delegates, our delegates go to the national convention and that’s where the nominee for the Republican Party is chosen, on the floor of the national convention. So that’s why we do it in March, not as a state-run primary,” said Downing.
Alaska democrats will hold their caucus on Saturday March 26th, starting at 10 a.m. and running until around noon. The caucus location for Homer has not yet been announced. You have to be a registered democrat to participate. You can register in advance through the division of elections or at the caucus.
The democrats hold primaries and caucuses in 11 states on Tuesday and in American Samoa. The republicans will hold primaries, caucuses and presidential preference polls in 12 states. The democrats abroad will also be voting in a primary March 1st -8th.
Voting locations for the republican presidential preference Poll can be found at www.alaskagop.org
Editor's note: A previous version of this story gave an incorrect caucus location for the democrats in Homer. According to staff at the Kachemak Bay Campus of Kenai Peninsula College, the caucus will not take place there.
