Fairbanks, Alaska — Concerns over access to early voting in rural Alaska have led to a lawsuit against the state’s Division of Elections, just days before the November 3 general election.
The Alaska Democratic Party and state representatives from rural communities filed the lawsuit Thursday, alleging that multiple absentee in-person voting locations failed to open as scheduled.
The legal challenge follows reports of voting difficulties in several communities after early and in-person absentee voting began October 19.
According to reporting by Alaska Public Media, state Sen. Bill Wielechowski raised concerns about voting access in 18 communities. The Division of Elections disputed that figure but acknowledged that some locations had not opened as planned.
Division Director Carol Beecher said three locations had declined to open and another three had not responded to state officials. The division maintained that 12 of the 18 locations identified by Wielechowski were open.
Reporting also found that voting arrangements varied between communities. In Huslia and Toksook Bay, local officials said voting was available by appointment, while an official in Gambell reported that voting began later than scheduled.
The situation has raised questions about how clearly voting hours and locations are communicated to residents in remote communities.
The Alaska Federation of Natives has emphasized the importance of providing accurate information about when and where rural residents can cast their ballots.
With Election Day approaching, the dispute highlights the logistical challenges of providing voting access across Alaska’s geographically isolated communities.
The allegations remain contested, and the filing of a lawsuit does not establish that the Division of Elections violated the law.
ANBC News will continue monitoring developments ahead of the November 3 election.
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