Elections

Micah Shields (courtesy photo)
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 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 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)
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)
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)
Ninilchik Fire Chief David Bear moves the fire truck out of the new Ninilchik Emergency Services building on Aug. 9, 2014, to make room for visitors to the open house of the new NES building. (Homer News file photo)

Proposition 1: What you need to know

Ninilchik, Anchor Point voters to decide on combine fire and EMS service area

Ninilchik Fire Chief David Bear moves the fire truck out of the new Ninilchik Emergency Services building on Aug. 9, 2014, to make room for visitors to the open house of the new NES building. (Homer News file photo)
Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula                                The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meets on Tuesdays inside in the Kenai Peninsula Borough Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska.
Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula                                The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meets on Tuesdays inside in the Kenai Peninsula Borough Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska.
The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna, Alaska is seen here on June 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Filing period ends for borough, local elections

The election for both the borough and peninsula municipalities is on Oct. 6.

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna, Alaska is seen here on June 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Community members listen to Alyse Galvin, who is running for the Alaska seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, speak during a meet and greet Sunday. Dec. 1, 2019 at K-Bay Caffee in Homer, Alaska. Galvin first ran to unseat Rep. Don Young in 2018. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

U.S. Congress candidate Alyse Galvin makes stop in Homer

Galvin won the Democratic primary in 2018 before losing to Don Young in the general election.

Community members listen to Alyse Galvin, who is running for the Alaska seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, speak during a meet and greet Sunday. Dec. 1, 2019 at K-Bay Caffee in Homer, Alaska. Galvin first ran to unseat Rep. Don Young in 2018. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)