A tracker used by the Alaska Division of Elections is seen on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024 at the division’s offices in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska Division of Elections is using a new tool this year in an attempt to avoid the kinds of ballot-counting problems that have occurred during previous elections.
Enclosed in the bright red and green paperwork bags sent to every remote polling station is a small, black tracking device that will allow workers to trace the location of each precinct’s ballots as they travel across the state and on to Juneau for final counting.
That’s an important change, because ballots have occasionally been delayed during their return voyage through the mail, causing elections officials to postpone certification.
Two years ago , ballots from seven rural precincts were so badly delayed during the special election to replace Rep. Don Young that they couldn’t be included in the second and third counts in the state’s first-ever ranked choice election.