Redistricting fractures 12 Valley precincts

MAT-SU -- The recent round of statewide redistricting, coupled with the state-mandated reapportionment of Mat-Su Borough Assembly districts and local precincts has resulted in what seems to be 12 fractured assembly districts.

The problem, explained Borough Clerk Sandra Dillon, is that borough voters approved new assembly districts earlier this year -- before the state supreme court approved the Alaska Redistricting Board's amended map. As a result, the 33 voting precincts now within the borough all stay within their designated House district lines, but some precincts cross assembly district lines.

For example, the Meadow Lakes 01 voting precinct crosses three assembly districts -- the northern residents of the precinct will vote for the District 6, Hatcher Pass-area assembly seat while voters in the middle area will cast a ballot in the District 7 assembly race and voters in southern area, near the Parks Highway, will vote in the District 4, Wasilla-area race. The split precincts will not be felt in the statewide or national elections -- only in the Oct. 1 municipal election.

This is the greatest number of split precincts the borough has had, Dillon said. For the past 10 years, borough election officials have only had to contend with one split precinct. But because the borough gained eight new precincts during the last round of redistricting, it was likely that some assembly lines would be straddled.

Dillon said most voters -- even those who live in the split areas -- will feel the change very little. At the most, she said, voters may have to point to a map to help election officials know they're handing out the right ballot.

"If there are any questions at all," Dillon said, "election officials will be asking the public to point to where they live."

Enlarged precinct maps, she said, will be available at polling places and she's hoping they will be linked to the borough's Web site at www.co.mat-su.ak.us before the end of August to help residents locate their polling place.

The added split assembly districts means more work for Dillon's office. Accu-Vote machines in shared precincts must be programmed to accept and tabulate two different ballots, Dillon said, and election officials will have to look through two or, in cases such as the Meadow Lakes 01 district, three voting registers. Training for the officials, Dillon said, will be restructured to a certain extent as well.

"I'm doing a different type of training," Dillon said. "I'm training those officials that have a split … separately, so we can focus more on what their issues are."

Above all, Dillon said, it will mean election officials must pay close attention to detail. But that's a task she's sure they're up to.

"Because we have such an efficient clerk's staff and great election officials, it should all run very smoothly," Dillon said.

For those voters who would prefer not to visit the polling place while the details of the new redistricting plan are being worked out, borough election ballots can be obtained by mail, Dillon said.

"They just have to fill out a form," Dillon said. Request forms for absentee ballots can be obtained at the borough Web site or by visiting the borough clerk's office in Palmer. Ballots will be sent out, Dillon said, approximately 18 days before the Oct. 1 election.

Voters can also cast ballots early by voting absentee-in-person at Cottonwood Creek Mall or at the borough building. Absentee-in-person voting will begin at those locations on Sept. 16 and ballots for every voting precinct will be available.

For more information about voting in the borough election, contact the clerk's office at 745-9783.