Two Dan Sullivans appear on Alaska ballot

Two candidates with the same first and last name appear on the November ballot in Alaska. The state will certify election results without a delay requested by the federal government. The situation has drawn national attention to a local voting issue.

Voters in Anchorage see two distinct names in the ballot materials. One entry lists Sullivan, Daniel J. Jr. The other lists Sullivan, Dan S., who holds the incumbent designation and is registered as a Republican. The incumbent is currently serving as a U.S. senator. The other candidate is running from the city of Petersburg.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit earlier this year. The department argued that the similar names would create confusion at polling places. They asked the state to pause the certification of results if the incumbent senator lost the election. A federal judge denied the request. The judge ruled that taking action would create more confusion than leaving the process unchanged. The Justice Department has filed an appeal against that decision.

The legal dispute followed a report from The New York Times. The report alleged that staff from the campaign of Democrat Mary Peltola installed the Petersburg candidate on the ballot. The Peltola campaign denied the claim. The Petersburg candidate has stated he entered the race independently and did not contact Peltola’s team. Peltola is a former U.S. representative. Her potential victory could decide which party controls the Senate.

Early voters expressed mixed feelings about the ballot layout. One Anchorage resident said, “I think stupid people can be.” Another voter suggested older citizens might focus only on the first name. A third voter noted the name similarity could be confusing but did not cause problems for them personally. A non-scientific poll conducted by Alaska’s News Source indicated most people did not find the ballot confusing.

The Midtown Mall in Anchorage hosted an early voting event on Monday afternoon. National media crews positioned themselves in a semicircle outside the entrance. They filmed early voters as they waited in line. The line moved quickly during that afternoon session.

The election is scheduled for Tuesday. Voters will cast their ballots for the U.S. Senate race. The state will count the votes and certify the winner. The Justice Department’s appeal remains pending in federal court.