(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska - The State of Alaska Division of Elections director has certified the August 21, 2018 Primary Election ballots for printing. 

The deadline for party replacement candidates, withdrawal for party candidates, and to change how a candidate’s name appears on the ballot was July 2.

The division has been working with the Department of Law to design ballots coinciding with the findings released in April of the Alaska Supreme Court in the State of Alaska vs Alaska Democratic Party case. Voters will see minor changes on the primary ballots this year including new headers. Candidates running on the Alaskan Independence, Alaska Democratic, Alaska Libertarian (A-D-L) ballots will all have one of the following political affiliation codes listed after their name: (A) Alaska Independence, (D) Democrat, (L) Libertarian, (N) Nonpartisan, and (U) Undeclared. The header for Alaska Republican Party ballots now include information specifying that all candidates are registered Republicans.

“We want voters to become familiar with the process and what they can expect when they participate in early or absentee voting or head to their polling locations on Election Day,” said State Elections Director Josie Bahnke. “We are committed to providing Alaskans with the information they need to make informed choices this year.” 

The division encourages all eligible Alaska residents to make sure they register to vote or update their registration information by the July 22, 2018 deadline to participate in the August 21 Primary election. The Department of Elections also reminds voters that state elections will be conducted under a precinct-based system with early and absentee voting opportunities. Anyone who wishes to receive a to receive a Primary ballot in the mail the deadline to apply is August 11, 2018. 

Sample ballots statewide are posted on the division’s website.

Upcoming Deadlines
http://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/electioncalendar.php

Following the Primary Election, the General Election will be held statewide on October 02, 2018. The general election will include local candidates running for office.

Filing forms for those interested in running for a local office in the October 02, 2018 election are now available on the Ketchikan Borough's website. The filing period for local elected offices begins on August 1st and closes at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on August 27th.  The Ketchikan Borough has elective seats open for the offices of Borough Assembly Members and School Board Members on the October 2, 2018 Borough ballot.  The following seats are available:

Ketchikan Borough Assembly - two (2) seats for three-year terms (Currently held by Stephen Bradford and Felix Wong)

School Board – three (3) seats for three-year terms (Currently held by Alma Manabat Parker, Lana Boler and Matt Eisenhower)

A listing of Ketchikan Borough candidates appearing on the October 2, 2018 Borough ballot will be available as candidates file, beginning August 1, 2018. 

To qualify as a candidate for Borough Assembly Member, a citizen must have resided in the Borough for one year prior to the election date, and must be a Borough registered voter 30 days prior to the election.  To qualify as a candidate for School Board, a citizen must be a Borough registered voter 30 days prior to the election.

In order for a candidate’s name to appear on the October 2, 2018 Borough ballot, the candidate must complete and submit the proper filing forms.  Candidate information, a current list of Borough candidates and filing forms are available in the Office of the Borough Clerk in the White Cliff Building, 1900 First Avenue, Suite 115, and on the Borough website at www.kgbak.us/elections. 

Qualified candidates must submit the completed declaration of candidacy along with the signatures of at least ten (10) qualified Ketchikan Borough voters. All candidates must also complete and submit the 2018 APOC Public Official Financial Disclosure Statement. These forms must be submitted together to the Borough Clerk’s office beginning August 1, 2018 through no later than 12:00 p.m. on August 27, 2018.

The City of Ketchikan will have several seats open, the Mayor's seat (three year term) occupied by Lew Williams and two City Council three-year term seats currently occupied by Bob Sivertsen and Janalee Gage are up.  The filing begins August 1st and ends at noon on August 27th, but the applications are available now in the clerk’s office at City Hall, 4th floor.  (City of Ketchikan Candidate Filing Information pdf)

The city's website explains the qualifications to run for Ketchikan City Council. A person who wishes to run for a vacant seat on the Ketchikan City Council must be 18 years of age, a qualified voter, and have resided within the City limits for one year. A person who wishes to run for Ketchikan mayor must be at least thirty years of age. A petition, which must be signed by at least 10 registered City voters, must be filled out and submitted to the Clerk's office 4 weeks prior to the election. The first day to file for the October 2018 election is August 1st and the deadline to file is August 27, 2018 (noon). A declaration of candidacy as well as a financial disclosure statement must be filled out before a person's name will be allowed on the ballot.

Editing by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

Alaska Department of Elections
www.elections.alaska.gov

 

Representations of fact and opinions in comments posted are solely those of the individual posters and do not represent the opinions of Sitnews.

SitNews ©2018
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

Articles & photographs that appear in SitNews may be protected by copyright and may not be reprinted without written permission from and payment of any required fees to the proper sources. E-mail your news & photos to editor@sitnews.us Photographers choosing to submit photographs for publication to SitNews are in doing so granting their permission for publication and for archiving. SitNews does not sell photographs. All requests for purchasing a photograph will be emailed to the photographer.