Alaska elections officials are violating voters’ rights by not providing a process for voters to fix mistakes on mail ballot envelopes, the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Arctic Village Council, League of Women Voters of Alaska and two voters who the complaint says made mistakes on their ballot envelopes in the June special U.S. House primary that resulted in their ballots being rejected.
One of the voters, Joyce M. Anderson, inadvertently included an “incorrect voter identifier” and the other, Edward H. Toal IV, mistakenly thought a witness signature was not needed, the lawsuit states.The special primary was conducted primarily by mail. More than 7,000 ballots were rejected, with “improper or insufficient witnessing” the most common reason, the lawsuit says.
Patty Sullivan, a spokesperson with the Alaska Department of Law, said the department could not comment on the specific allegations in the lawsuit filed Tuesday because the state had not yet been served. But she said state law “does not include a notice and ballot cure process, and the Division is not free to disregard or rewrite the statutes passed by the Legislature.”
The lawsuit argues state laws “neither prohibit nor explicitly provide for timely notice of and an opportunity to cure absentee ballot envelopes” submitted without voter or witness signatures or an identifier. It contends that under existing law, “election officials could immediately notify voters of any ballot envelope error they detect and provide an opportunity for cure.”
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Alaska News Nightly: Tuesday, August 23, 2022 - Alaska Public MediaMore than a year after voters approved them, Anchorage police still don't have body cameras. Also, Gov. Mike Dunleavy says Alaska is the best place to mine for critical minerals. And the end of a federal free lunch program is leaving some parents confused.
Read more »
Alaska News Nightly: Monday, August 22, 2022 - Alaska Public MediaTonight on Alaska News Nightly... The last remaining private company with a lease to drill in ANWR has pulled out. Local opposition builds against Donlin Gold's proposed mine. An unusual bet motivated a high school student to graduate. Listen here:
Read more »
Share your voter priorities and Alaska election questions in listening sessions this monthTonight in Anchorage: Share your voter priorities and election questions with AK journalists, and help drive state election coverage. Today's listening session is 5:30-7 p.m. at the Loussac Library. Can't make it? There's also a virtual session next week.
Read more »
Alaska Black Caucus and other groups threaten legal action over APD’s lack of body cameras - Alaska Public MediaThe Alaska Black Caucus and other advocacy groups say they're considering legal action against the city because the Anchorage Police Department is still not using body cameras, which voters approved buying more than 16 months ago.
Read more »
Tara Sweeney drops out of Alaska U.S. House raceRepublican Tara Sweeney is dropping out of the U.S. House election, after garnering around 3.7% of votes counted so far in the primary race.
Read more »
Anchorage Assembly nixes effort to make city clerk an elected position - Alaska Public MediaThe Anchorage Assembly has indefinitely postponed voting on a ballot initiative that would make the city clerk an elected official. Assembly member Forrest Dunbar said he believed similar ordinances were giving a platform to election disinformation.
Read more »