Protecting Your Rights: Serving Sand Lake, Spenard and Turnagain |
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In this issue:
• Special Election Update
• Ranked Choice Voting
• Constituent Survey Results
• Community Information
• Community Events
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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Last Friday was the deadline for candidates to file to enter the race for Alaska's Congressional seat. More about the special election, constituent survey results, and community information below.
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The recent passing of Congressman Don Young has left a vacancy in Alaska's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Division of Elections has announced the timeline for the election and the deadline for candidates to enter the race has passed. Fifty-one individuals filed to enter the historic race, and three have dropped out. That leaves us 48 candidates. See the sample ballot below.
Here is what we know:
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A special primary election will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2022. Ballots for this election will be mailed automatically to all registered voters on April 27. On this ballot, voters will choose one candidate and the top four will proceed to the August 16 special election. Read more about the decision to make the special primary a vote-by-mail election here.
A special election will be held on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. This election will occur on the same ballot as the regular primary election. This election will be the first to use the ranked-choice voting system that was approved by voters in 2020 via Ballot Measure 2. The winner of the special election will then represent Alaska in the U.S. House of Representatives until the winner of the November general election is sworn in.
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In the 2020 General Election, voters approved Ballot Measure 2. This measure establishes a Nonpartisan Top Four Primary Election and a Ranked Choice Voting General Election.
In the new system, the top four candidates in the primary election proceed to the general election. For a candidate to win, they must receive a majority (we call this 50% plus one vote).
Ballots are counted in rounds. In Round 1, only the vote for the 1st choice candidate is counted. If no candidate receives a majority of votes in the first round of counting, more rounds of counting continue until a candidate reaches a majority.
In Round 2, the last place candidate from each race in Round 1 is eliminated and their supporter's 2nd choice is allocated to the remaining candidates on the ballot. This process of vote distribution continues until one candidate reaches over 50% or until there are two candidates remaining and the candidate with most votes wins. In each round of counting, each voter gets one vote.
Voters may choose to vote for only one candidate, or to rank all of the candidates. There is no harm done to your 1st choice by ranking other candidates. By ranking multiple candidates, you can still have a voice in who gets elected even if your top choice does not win. There is not a requirement to rank all four candidates.
The Alaska Division of Elections walks through ranked choice voting here.
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Constituent Survey Results |
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Nearly 200 friends and neighbors from across House District 21 completed our constituent survey! Having compiled the information and analyzed the results, we have some key takeaways. |
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→ Booster Eligibility Update
Vaccines and boosters continue to be the best way to stay safe from severe COVID illness. Everyone 50+ and certain immunocompromised individuals are eligible for a second COVID vaccine booster 4 months after receiving their initial booster.
Make an appointment here.
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→ DOT Survey on Infrastructure Funding
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is urging Alaskans to fill out an additional survey expressing their preferences for how money in the "Infrastructure and Jobs Act" will be spent. The survey must be completed by TODAY, April 8.
Take the survey by clicking here.
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→ Assembly Approves Reapportionment Map
The Anchorage Assembly approved a final reapportionment map. This vote marks the end of the process of drawing new districts. In accordance with the U.S. Constitution, the Alaska Constitution, and the Anchorage Municipal Charter, the new assembly districts reflect the addition of an additional assembly seat in Downtown Anchorage. The assembly passed a resolution to hold a special election Tuesday, June 21, 2022 to fill the new assembly seat, Seat L. This comes after voters approved Proposition 12 in 2020. The addition of Seat L will alter some aspects of the assembly, including the shift from a six vote majority to a seven vote majority.
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Community Events
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
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Sand Lake Community Council
When: Monday, April 11 at 6:30 PM
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Infrastructure Grant Symposium
Hosted by Senator Lisa Murkowski, the symposium will provide Alaskans with a better understanding of the unprecedented opportunities made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law, which provides for historic investments in core physical infrastructure—roads, bridges, rail, transit, ports, airports, energy, water systems, and broadband.
The event is free and open to the public.
When: Monday, April 11 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
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As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
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CONTACT INFORMATION
(907) 465-4919
State Capitol Bldg. Rm 118
Juneau, Alaska 99801
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CONTACT THE GOVERNOR
(907) 465-3500
550 West 7th Ave. Suite 1700
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
STATE OF ALASKA
State Info: (907) 269-5111
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CONTACT THE ADN
Write a Letter to the Editor
Submit your letter to the Anchorage Daily News via email or web form.
attn: Letters to the Editor
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