State GOP votes today

MAT-SU — If the spectacle of the Republican presidential nominating process has you itching to have your say, today’s the day to scratch that itch.

From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., in at least five different locations, party officials will be waiting for you to cast your ballot in the state’s Presidential Preference Poll.

“We think it could be quite a few,” said Marvin Yoder, who is helping to run the poll set to take over the Palmer Train Depot, when asked what he expects in terms of turnout. “Four years ago there was a pretty good turnout, lots of people turned out, there were lines around the building.”

Four candidates have qualified for Alaska’s ballot — alphabetically, they are former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Rick Santorum.

Of those, only Paul has visited the state in this campaign season. He was in Anchorage and Fairbanks Sunday. Gingrich has had a conference call with state supporters and Romney, as he did in 2008 when he carried Alaska, sent one of his sons to campaign here.

According to the state Republican Party’s website, Butte and Palmer are voting at the Palmer Depot, districts on the Wasilla end will converge on the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center, and there are a handful of smaller polling places for those in farther flung regions.

Yoder said that if you don’t know which district you live in, the party’s got you covered. There will be tables set up at the Palmer Depot for other districts besides Palmer, likewise at the sports complex. There will be volunteers, maps and computers to help people figure out their district.

He said he hopes things go smoothly and won’t take too much time out of people’s schedules.

“We’re not really planning on having a bunch of campaigning going on there. We’d rather have people come in and cast their votes and head out,” Yoder said.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.

WHAT: State Republican Party Presidential Preference Poll

WHO: The poll is open to registered Republicans and Alaskans who register as Republicans at the polling place

WHEN: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., today

WHERE: Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Complex in Wasilla; Palmer Train Depot; Willow United Methodist Church; Alpine Inn at Mile 81.5 Glenn Highway, Sutton; Glacier View School at Mile 104 Glenn Highway.