Early voting opened Monday for Alaska’s primary election on Aug. 20. There are early voting locations in Kenai, Soldotna and Homer.
Early voting will be open until Aug. 19.
Senate District D represents the northern Kenai Peninsula including Kenai, Soldotna and Nikiski. Incumbent Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, is contending with challenger Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski — who is not running for reelection to his current seat in the House of Representatives — as well as Andy Cizek and Tina Wegener.
House District 7 represents Kenai and Soldotna. Incumbent Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, is challenged by former Rep. Ron Gillham, R-Soldotna.
House District 8 represents Nikiski, Sterling and Cooper Landing. There is no incumbent running because Carpenter is running for a different seat. Bill Elam, currently on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, and John Hillyer, a retired Air Force pilot, are vying for the seat.
House District 6 represents the southern Kenai Peninsula including Homer, Anchor Point and Kasilof. Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, is the incumbent. Other candidates include Dawson Slaughter, an Anchor Point Republican and president of the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce; Alana Greear, an elementary teacher at Kachemak-Selo School; and Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly President Brent Johnson.
House District 5 includes Seward and other communities not on the Kenai Peninsula like Kodiak and Cordova. Seward resident Leighton Radner, a registered member of the Libertarian party, is running against incumbent Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak.
During the primary election, voters will also cast ballots for the U.S. House of Representatives seat currently held by Rep. Mary Peltola. There are 12 names on the ballot, which will be winnowed down to four based on primary results for the November election.
In Kenai, early voting is available at the Region V Elections Office at 11312 Kenai Spur Highway, Suite 48. That’s in the Old Carrs Mall near the Alaska Job Center. Ballots can be cast from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Soldotna Prep School at 426 West Redoubt Avenue will host early voting Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Homer City Clerk’s Office at 491 East Pioneer Avenue is an early voting location. Ballots can be cast from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until Aug. 19, except for Aug. 12, when the office will close at 3 p.m.
All the Kenai Peninsula early voting locations have ballots available for House Districts 5-8 and 37.
More information about all locations can be found at elections.alaska.gov/avo.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
