Election season is just around the corner, with officials already gearing up for the state’s primary election on Aug. 18. With health officials still urging social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, some Alaskans may not feel comfortable gathering at a polling place.
For anyone who’d rather stay home, that is an option. Any registered voter can request an absentee ballot to vote by mail instead.
“You don’t have to have any reason to apply for a absentee by mail. It’s open to anyone,” notes Julie Husmann, a regional supervisor for the Alaska Division of Elections, who oversees elections in the Anchorage and Matanuska-Susitna areas.