(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska - The bi-partisan Alaska State Review Board has completed a thorough review of the 2016 General Election. With the review complete, Division of Elections Director, Josie Bahnke, announced today that the 2016 General Election has now been certified.

There were 321,271 ballots cast in the 2016 General Election for a final turnout of 60.77%. “This election generated a record number of voters who voted early, absentee or questioned ballots; over 123,000, compared to about 90,000 in 2014,” said Bahnke. Approximately 32% of Alaskans voted via an alternative method this year, and the division expects that voting trend to continue to increase in future elections.”

Although the Division received a record number of these ballots for the 2016 election, the statutorily mandated time to process the ballots was still the same. Under state law, the Division’s Regional Offices must have ballots processed and counted within 15 days following the election. It takes an immense effort for the Regional Office staff and bi-partisan review boards to complete the review and counting of early, absentee and questioned ballots. “I want to thank Division of Election employees who processed approximately 100,000 early and absentee ballots counted on election night and during the seven, ten and fifteen day counts,” said Lt. Governor Byron Mallott.

Bahnke expressed gratitude and thanks for the thousands of election workers, review board members and Division staff who helped make the 2016 elections successful. “It takes thousands of Alaskans to work collaboratively, at the state, regional and local level to ensure elections reflect the will of Alaskan voters. We couldn’t do it without the great and loyal service of our election workers and staff,” said Bahnke.

On the Web:

View the Official Election Results - Alaska Division of Elections
http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/16GENR/

Editing by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

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