Early voting turnout is lowest in the four Alaska districts where Alaska Native people are the majority, as community leaders try to raise participation, the Anchorage Daily News reports.
In the first three days of early voting, nearly 1,400 people voted in the Juneau district covering the Capitol, more than 9% of eligible voters. In the Arctic district, only 27 ballots were cast, about 0.3% of registered voters.
State Senator Bill Wielechowski wrote to the Division of Elections saying early in-person voting sites had failed to open in at least 18 villages. The paper notes long-standing problems in rural areas, including missing language help, absentee ballots rejected over mail delays and errors, staff turnover and polling places struggling to find workers. A reform bill meant to address some of these issues was vetoed by Governor Mike Dunleavy.
Source: Anchorage Daily News
