Amidst the Alaska Election surge, voters in Anchorage braved long lines and wintry weather to cast their early ballots on Sunday, November 3, 2024. This scene mirrors a national trend, with more Americans and Alaskans choosing to vote early in previous elections. Over 23,900 voters in Anchorage and 61,900 statewide cast early ballots by Sunday evening, exceeding Alaska’s 2020 record.
Cal Williams, donning a yellow hat, waited two hours to vote early. Sonja Kent, another voter, echoed the sentiment, “I don’t want to leave it to chance.” She usually votes on election day but decided to vote early due to snow and to ensure her vote counted.
As of Saturday, over 74 million Americans had cast their ballots nationwide, almost 47% of the total number cast in the 2020 presidential election. Jedd Congdon, regional director, noted, “This is different from previous years. Nationwide, we’re seeing a huge early vote push.”
Voters cited demanding jobs, bad weather forecasts, and a sense of urgency as reasons for early voting. Dawn Wroblewski voted on Sunday since it was her only available day. Josephine Immamak, a first-time voter, wanted to “get it out of her system” after being overwhelmed by the news. She further added that she voted for Kamala Harris because she admired her policies for women’s health.
Some voters enjoyed a lighthearted moment when a raven pushed snow from the roof onto the sidewalk. Will Eliot, waiting with his family, laughed, “I got a big snowball on my shoulder.”
Early voting continues in Anchorage locations on Monday, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. As the Alaska Election surge continues, Alaskans are making their voices heard.
This news story was originally published by Anchorage Daily News.
