Early voting leads to long lines, increased participation throughout Borough

With a seemingly continuous onslaught of political ads on television, radio and the internet, it is nearly impossible to forget that this is an election year. Up for election is the highest office in the land-the Presidency. But also, every representative in the US is up for re-election, including the sole representative spot for Alaska.

There are also a number of state and Mat-Su Borough elections this cycle, from the state Senate and Representatives to the MSB mayor several assembly spots, and school board members.

Early voting has started in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and there have been reports of record turnout and along with that, long wait times, some voters waiting two hours or longer.

Wasilla Councilman Ian Crafton commented during the October 28 Wasilla City Council meeting that he went to early vote and experienced the long wait times. “It is taking two hours right now. If you’re going to go, just be prepared.” He also suggested that if residents aren’t casting their ballots early to still have a plan for long lines or weather. “Be prepared.”

Crafton also encouraged voters to take their time and read the ballots carefully.

“People are really caught off guard by all that’s on it.”

“There’s nothing worse than trying to go vote and getting shut out because time runs out,” echoed Wasilla council member Stu Graham.

In Houston, election workers say that there has been a noticeable uptick in early voting not just from residents within the city limits, but some from nearby who are still able to vote without the long wait times. However, while voters from surrounding areas can come out to smaller precincts to vote, they will not be able to cast ballots for local representation. Voters would still need to go to the Division of Elections to cast those ballots.

“Every day, other than the snow storm, we’ve had a lot more people coming in,” said Karen Kirkpatrick.

Longtime Houston resident Rosemary Burnett said she doesn’t miss an election. “It’s our duty. Go out and vote. If I can make it, anyone can,” she said after casting her ballot on October 30.

“Make a plan to get out and vote…it’s a good thing and something that here in America we have the right to do,” said Crafton.

This election cycle will also see the first time federal ballots in the Mat-Su Borough will be hand-counted after the Mat-Su Borough Assembly in October, 2022, voted in a 6-1 to eliminate any and all voting machines from local elections, and mandated that all tabulation happen via transparent hand counting. That decision came after many cited the 2020 national elections in which former President Donald Trump issued claims of voter fraud, in part due to some cities and states using Dominion Voting Machines. While investigations and lawsuits failed to support that particular claim, voters across the US and here in the Mat-Su Borough have stated their distrust of utilizing voting machines or tabulators when it comes to local elections.

The law requires a hand count of all ballots at the precinct level on election night. It also specifies that poll watchers must be allowed to observe the tabulation process.

Federal, state and borough elections will be held Tuesday, November 5. For more information, including polling locations, please visit www.elections.alaska.gov

“It’s not just a privilege as American citizens, it’s our responsibility,” says Graham.