Alaskan voters are voting in two separate elections for the same seat.Here's how it works

Alaskan voters are voting in two separate elections for the same seat.Here’s how it works

The reason is that there will be both a special general election to fill out the remainder of Don Young’s term, and a primary that will determine who will contest the seat’s next term beginning in January, which begins in November.

It’s a complicated process. Other than voting for the same seat twice a day, different rules apply to special general elections and primaries.

Special General Election Will Be First Time Used by Alaska rank choice vote This would allow voters to rank their preferred candidates, and if there are no more than 50% of candidates voted for the lowest ranked candidate to determine who would fill the remainder of Young’s term. If no one reaches that threshold, it will take some time before we know the winner in the ranked choice vote tally scheduled to begin on August 31st.

What happens in primary school?

A Top 4 method is used in the primary election. This means that candidates from all parties and candidates with no party affiliation will run in the same primary. special election Major early this yearThe top four candidates will then advance full-time to the November General Election.

why did this happen?

Young’s death prompted a special election. He held the seat for his 49 years, and after his death there was a crowded field with his 48 candidates competing in his June special primary for the seat.

Alaskan officials have set the special general election to take place on the same day as the already scheduled primary.

Who is running for the special general election?

Four candidates have been promoted to special general, but only three candidates remain on the ballot after independent candidate Al Gros withdrew from the race.

On the Voting: Former Alaska Governor and Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah PalinRepublican Nick Begich III, who won the Alaskan Republican endorsement in April, is a product of powerful Alaskan politics. Former Democratic State Rep. Mary Peltra.

Palin’s attempt at a political comeback comes 13 years after she stepped down as governor of Alaska in 2009 during her only term. Since then, she has been a conservative media figure, endorsing and campaigning for various Republican candidates, but she has largely stayed out of Alaskan politics.

Rival candidates and political commentators across the state say the ranked-choice voting process could hurt Palin’s chances in the general election. candidate and endorsed by a former president donald trump, surpassing Alaska by 10 points in 2020. But Palin has also faced opposition from voters still angry that she left the governor’s office.

Who is running for primary election?

Palin, Begich and Peltola are also participating in regular Primary Tuesday voting. 19 others.

When will voting start?

Alaska polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time, but all Alaska voters can vote by mail. Your vote-by-mail ballot must be postmarked by August 16th and arrive by August 26th.

Source: www.cnn.com