In August, the small Alaskan village of Kaktovik faced an election crisis when its polling station failed to open. This highlighted Alaska’s Native voting challenges, as 189 registered voters had nowhere to cast ballots. George Kaleak, a whaling captain in Alaska, posted flyers seeking poll workers for the August election. Furthermore, the state of Alaska failed to send election staff, resulting in Kaktovik polling sites remaining closed on election day.
Similar difficulties affected other Alaskan communities, such as Wales and Anaktuvuk Pass, where polling places opened late or not at all. In a state where remote villages often need more reliable mail service, absentee voting is also tricky, adding another challenge for native Alaskan voters. Carol Beecher, the Elections director of Alaska Division, acknowledged the staffing issue and committed her agency to address it before the general election.
As Alaska’s sole congressional seat faces a close race, the stakes for reliable voting are high. Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, the first Alaska native in Congress, has gained strong support from native voters but faced a tough reelection against Republican Nick Begich. Local and regional officials are stepping in to prevent further issues for the November 5 election. North Slope Borough covering Kaktovik plans to send staff to ensure polls open with legal department head Taylor Thompson, criticizing the state’s previous response as inadequate.
Multiple barriers persist for native Alaska voters with over 200 far-flung communities, from language difficulty to logistical challenges. In Latvia, isolated by arctic conditions and high living costs, securing poll workers remains a problem. Kalek emphasized that the efforts to address these issues are gaining momentum, asserting that the Alaska Native voters deserve equal attention countrywide.
This news story was originally published by AP News.
