The State of Alaska primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 16, but the deadline to register to vote is coming up.
Melissa Jacobsen is the deputy city clerk for the city of Homer. She says the deadline is this Sunday.
“The deadline to register to vote, to be able to vote in the primary election, is July 17. You can register online at the state of Alaska website. You can find information on the city of Homer city clerk’s website and you can register in the city clerk’s office through 5 o’clock on Friday, July 15. Registration is also available at the Homer Public Library on Saturday the 16th, and registration online after that,” said Jacobson.
There are three Republican candidates on the ballot for House District 31. The seat is currently held by Paul Seaton. Homer Mayor Beth Wythe is challenging Seaton, along with John Cox, of Anchor Point. Jacobson says, if you want to be able to vote on a Republican ballot, you need to be registered as a Republican, as undeclared or as nonpartisan.
“In the state of Alaska — some people get confused because there is also an Independent Party or an independent political affiliation, and that is actually a registered party with the state and that does limit you to only being able to take the ADL Ballot, which is Democrat, Libertarian and Independent, and other party affiliation besides Democrat or Republican. They can vote the ballot issues — they can vote anything else on the ballot — they just won’t be eligible to vote anything else on the ballot because we have split primaries in Alaska,” said Jacobson.
Jacobson says voters should remember that how they are registered to vote will determine the ballot they receive.
In addition, Jacobson reminds people who have moved recently to update their address, if they want voting to go smoothly.
Residents of Kenai and Soldotna can register to vote at their respective city clerk's offices or at the Kenai Peninsula Borough clerk's office in Soldotna until 5 p.m. Friday. Across Kachemak Bay, voters can register to vote at the city of Seldovia clerk's office until 5 p.m. Friday. Voters in Port Graham can register to vote at the Port Graham Village Council offices until 5 p.m. Friday, and in Nanwalek, voters can register at the Nanwalek IRA.
