Juneau officials lock down ballot transport ahead of Tuesday vote

Alaska residents face heightened scrutiny of their ballots this Tuesday as the state enters a period of intense national attention. The Division of Elections issued a media advisory outlining how votes will move from local boxes to the state office in Juneau. Ballots, voting machines, and keys will be sealed with tamper-proof locks. These items will be stored behind locked doors under constant camera and security system monitoring.

Alaska uses paper ballots, a method the Division described as secure because it creates a physical trail for review. Federal and bipartisan experts certify all voting equipment before purchase. After Election Day, a state review board will conduct audits. They will randomly select precincts to hand-count votes. The selected precincts must account for at least 5% of total votes in each of the 40 house districts. If a hand count reveals a discrepancy of more than 1%, officials must hand-count all ballots in that district.

Isabelle Schmeler, a county captain for NBC News, arrived in Juneau ahead of the vote. She stated that the network sent her to serve as an observer on the ground. "All eyes are on Alaska," Schmeler said. "That is kind of why they sent me here, especially to Juneau, to sort of be the eyes and ears on the ground of what might happen statewide." Her presence reflects the national focus on the race between incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola.

The outcome of that Senate race could determine the balance of power in Congress. Lawrence Norden, vice president of the Elections and Government Program at the Brennan Center, noted that many Americans are unfamiliar with Alaska's electoral system. He explained that the state's size and ranked-choice voting process mean counting takes time. The final tally is not expected until Nov. 18. "There is going to be that two-week period where people are asking a lot of questions," Norden said. He urged patience from voters and candidates during the count.

Controversy has surrounded this cycle, including a report by The New York Times claiming the Peltola campaign pushed for Dan J. Sullivan to run for Senate. Governor Mike Dunleavy announced a criminal investigation into those claims. The Department of Justice previously sued to isolate ballots for both Sullivans to check for voter confusion. A federal judge dismissed that lawsuit on Sunday, Oct. 25.

Norden emphasized that challenges to certification are not unique to Alaska. "If Alaska follows its rules, we know from challenges that have happened in other states around the country to election certification, if the rules are followed, the election is going to be certified," he said.

Despite the media storm, Alaskans are heading to the polls in large numbers. Schmeler observed that the national attention has energized voters rather than detaining them. Rainy weather and long lines have not stopped participation. Early voting numbers indicate this is one of the most participated-in elections in Alaska's history.