(SitNews) Anchorage, Alaska - On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, about 560,000 ballots (This differs from the total mailed number on State of Alaska Division of Elections returned ballots as the state has subtracted ballots that been returned as undeliverable)for the Special Primary Election to fill the US House seat. Since then 83,849 ballots have been returned to the State of Alaska Division of Elections. 

On Friday, May 27, 2022, Absentee in Person voting locations will opened statewide.  At these locations, voters can request a replacement ballot, vote if they did not receive a ballot at their mailing address, or return their mailed ballots.

Voters can still return their ballot through the mail through Election Day, June 11, 2022. 

Alaskans for Better Elections reminds all Alaskan voters to:: 

1. Vote for only one candidate on the ballot

2. Place ballot in a secrecy sleeve.

3. Place ballot and secrecy sleeve into the return envelope.

4. Sign the - backside, top-left of the return envelope, under the envelope flap.

5. Have another adult sign and date the witness signature line.

6. Provide an identifier.

7. Seal the envelope.

8. Leave the perforated tab in place to protect your signature and identifier, which are both deemed confidential by the State of Alaska.

9. Drop the ballot return envelope in the nearest United States Postal Service mailbox (postage has already been paid!).

1. If it is close to Election Day,  June 11, 2022, bring your ballot to the United States Post Office and ask the postal clerk to hand cancel the postage.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a proclamation on March 23, 2022 declaring a vacancy in the Office of the United States Representative after the death of Congressman Don Young and called for a special election.

The U.S. Constitution requires an election for a vacant U.S. House seat. It does not allow for appointments. The person elected will take office after they are certified as the winner and sworn in to the U.S. House. The winner will temporarily fill the Congressional seat of the late Representative Don Young..

Don Young (R-AK) had planned to run for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Alaska's At-Large Congressional District. At his death, he was withdrawn before the primary on August 16, 2022.

Don Young (June 9, 1933 – March 18, 2022) was an American politician and educator from the state of Alaska. At the time of his death, he was the longest-serving Republican in congressional history, having been the U.S. representative for Alaska's at-large congressional district for 49 years, from 1973 until his death on March 18, 2022.

There are 48 candidates on the special primary election ballot.

The special primary election will give Alaska voters a chance to test-drive the new approach to picking political leaders. In the primary election, all candidates will appear on a single ballot. The top four voter-getters will then advance to the general election ballot, where voters can rank them from most- to least-favorite. The same system will apply to the regular election later this year, when Alaskans will decide races for legislature, governor, the U.S. Senate, and the full two-year term for the U.S. House seat.

The last special election was to fill the vacancy of Rep. Nick Begich in 1973. There was a primary and in the general there were two candidates: Emil Notti and Don Young. Young won the election by 2,000 votes.

The Division of Elections plans to certify the results of the special primary election on June 25.

On the web:

Sample Primary Election Ballot

Primary Election Information
www.elections.alaska.gov

2022 Special Primary Ballot Statistics 

Ranked Choice Voting - Explained

2022 Special Primary Election for U.S. Representative - Final List & Information

Source of News:

Alaska Division of Elections
www.elections.alaska.gov

Alaskans for Better Elections
https://alaskansforbetterelections.com

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