Division of Elections Clarifies
Absentee Voting Instructions Error
August 24, 2008
Sunday
The Alaska Division of Elections
mailed over 23,000 ballots to voters for the Primary Election.
Each time ballots are mailed, the Division includes instructions
that inform voters how to return the ballot. There are two different
sets of instructions one being instructions for voters
who need to submit a photocopy of their identification.
Some of the ballots with the instructions informing voters to
include a photocopy of their identification were inadvertently
sent to voters who do not need to supply the photocopy of identification.
The photocopy identification requirement applied to just 27 voters;
the Division is contacting these voters to inform them that the
instructions were, in fact, for them.
All other absentee voters who were sent ballots with the additional
requirement were sent a follow-up letter letting them know the
extra identification requirements mentioned in the instructions
do not apply to them. These voters simply have to: 1) sign the
return ballot envelope; 2) provide one identifier, such as their
voter number, birth date, Alaska driver's license number or last
4 digits of their Social Security number; and 3) have their signature
witnessed by an authorized official or a person over the age
of 18.
The extra identification requirements do not apply to voters
who have voted in previous elections in Alaska who have an Alaska
driver's license or State ID card or to voters who have a voter
ID card.
According to a news release, the Division has made great efforts
to process all of the absentee-by-mail ballot applications and
mail the ballots in plenty of time for voters to receive and
return them. Under state law, by-mail ballots must be postmarked
on or before Election Day.
On the Web:
2008 Election Dates and Information
http://ltgov.state.ak.us/elections/
2008 Primary Election Information
http://www.elections.alaska.gov/2008_prim_info.php
Download the 2008 Primary Voter
Pamphlet
http://www.elections.alaska.gov/Publications/Ballot_Measures_Voter_Guide_08.pdf
Source of News:
State of Alaska, Division of
Elections
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