Elections

A vote-by-mail ballot box is photographed at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration building in Soldotna, Alaska, in October 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Soldotna to allow voters to fix affidavits

About 16 absentee ballots were rejected due to a variety of reasons in the 2020 elections.

A vote-by-mail ballot box is photographed at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration building in Soldotna, Alaska, in October 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Dan Nelson stands in the Peninsula Clarion building on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Meet Soldotna City Council candidate Dan Nelson

Election 2021

Dan Nelson stands in the Peninsula Clarion building on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Council member Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings is running unopposed for a seat on the Soldotna City Council. (courtesy photo)

Meet Soldotna City Council candidate Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings

Election 2021

Soldotna City Council member Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings is running unopposed for a seat on the Soldotna City Council. (courtesy photo)
Soldotna City Council member Jordan Chilson is running for reelection to his seat on the council. (Courtesy photo)

Meet Soldotna City Council candidate Jordan Chilson

Election 2021

Soldotna City Council member Jordan Chilson is running for reelection to his seat on the council. (Courtesy photo)
Micah Shields (courtesy photo)

Meet Soldotna City Council candidate Micah Shields

Election 2021

Micah Shields (courtesy photo)
Linda Cusack (left) and Teri Birchfield (right) test a Dominion voting machine ahead of the Oct. 5 municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

New voting machines get test spin

Testing voting equipment has always been open to the public, but was made more accessible due to sweeping election policies approved earlier this year.

Linda Cusack (left) and Teri Birchfield (right) test a Dominion voting machine ahead of the Oct. 5 municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
John Osenga stands in the Seward Community Library & Museum on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

John Osenga says he wants to ‘help push something in a positive, forward direction’

Election 2021: Seward City Council

John Osenga stands in the Seward Community Library & Museum on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Leighton Radner stands in the Seward Community Library & Museum on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Leighton Radner: ‘This has to be fixed’

Election 2021: Seward City Council

Leighton Radner stands in the Seward Community Library & Museum on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Vice Mayor and Kenai City Council member Bob Molloy (center), council member Jim Glendening (right), council member Victoria Askin (far right), and council member Henry Knackstedt (far left) participate in a work session discussing the overhaul of Kenai election codes on Wednesday at Kenai City Hall.

Kenai overhauls city’s election code

The restructuring will bring the city code in alignment with the Kenai Peninsula Borough.

Kenai Vice Mayor and Kenai City Council member Bob Molloy (center), council member Jim Glendening (right), council member Victoria Askin (far right), and council member Henry Knackstedt (far left) participate in a work session discussing the overhaul of Kenai election codes on Wednesday at Kenai City Hall.
A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)

Voter registration deadline Sunday

The municipal election is Oct. 5.

A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
A resident casts their vote in the regular municipal election Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Borough encourages voters to participate in municipal election

Kenai, Soldotna, Seward and Homer city councils as well as school district and assembly have seats open.

A resident casts their vote in the regular municipal election Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska.

City, borough and school board seats up for grabs

The candidate filing period for people interested in running for seats open in the Oct. 5 municipal election closed Monday.

A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska.
A resident casts their vote in the regular municipal election Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Filing period open for municipal elections

City councils, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly and the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education all have seats available.

A resident casts their vote in the regular municipal election Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
A sign by the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center shows where to vote on Aug. 21, 2018, for the Diamond Ridge, Homer, Alaska, precinct. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Federal appeals court nixes some caps for Alaska campaign contributions

The decision struck down a $500-a-year limit on individual contributions to non-party groups and the $3,000-a-year cap on total nonresident donations.

A sign by the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center shows where to vote on Aug. 21, 2018, for the Diamond Ridge, Homer, Alaska, precinct. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Annette Pankoski testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly approves election measures

The assembly OK’d purchasing new voting equipment.

Annette Pankoski testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alex Koplin is a founding member of Kenai Peninsula Votes. (courtesy photo)

Voices of the Peninsula: How can we engage reluctant voters?

We don’t care who you vote for — just vote.

Alex Koplin is a founding member of Kenai Peninsula Votes. (courtesy photo)
Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, speaks to reporters at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 15, 2021, about a bill of his to reform Alaska's elections. An earlier version of the bill drew sharp criticism but Shower says his bill is not meant to be partisan. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Polarizing election reform bill reintroduced with changes

Bill gets another run.

Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, speaks to reporters at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 15, 2021, about a bill of his to reform Alaska's elections. An earlier version of the bill drew sharp criticism but Shower says his bill is not meant to be partisan. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Kim Lofstedt casts her vote early in Alaska’s Primary Election at Kenai City Hall on Aug. 17, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough to acquire accessible voting equipment

The acquisition will be in response to allegations of discrimination by a voter

Kim Lofstedt casts her vote early in Alaska’s Primary Election at Kenai City Hall on Aug. 17, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
In this sample primary ballot released by the state, fictional candidates compete in a primary election. The candidates include a blend of fictional Republican and Democratic candidates. The August 2022 state primary election will be the first to feature open primaries. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

State begins implementing voter-approved election overhaul

Here’s how it will work.

In this sample primary ballot released by the state, fictional candidates compete in a primary election. The candidates include a blend of fictional Republican and Democratic candidates. The August 2022 state primary election will be the first to feature open primaries. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Residents cast their votes in the regular municipal election Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 at the Anchor Point Senior Center in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Voters turn down hybrid election system

Ballot measure to create service area for Ninilchik, Anchor Point passes

Residents cast their votes in the regular municipal election Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 at the Anchor Point Senior Center in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)