Elections

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche and Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly candidates Heath Smith and Kelly Cooper participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Forum at Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mayor, assembly candidates field questions in Homer

Participating in Thursday’s forum were incumbent Mayor Peter Micciche and assembly candidates Kelly Cooper and Heath Smith

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche and Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly candidates Heath Smith and Kelly Cooper participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Forum at Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A line of voters runs out the door of the Diamond Ridge Voting Precinct at the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. Chamber Executive Director Brad Anderson said he had never seen the amount of people coming through the polling place. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

How many ways can you vote?

Multiple ballot options available to voters

A line of voters runs out the door of the Diamond Ridge Voting Precinct at the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. Chamber Executive Director Brad Anderson said he had never seen the amount of people coming through the polling place. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Ryan Tunseth, Adam Bertoldo, Bill Elam and Nissa Savage participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly candidate forum at Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Election 2023: 1st round of assembly candidates tackle issues

Participating in Monday’s forum were Adam Bertoldo, Bill Elam, Peter Ribbens, Nissa Savage and Ryan Tunseth

Ryan Tunseth, Adam Bertoldo, Bill Elam and Nissa Savage participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly candidate forum at Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Teea Winger, Henry Knackstedt and Phil Daniel participate in a Kenai City Council candidate forum at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai council candidates convene for Thursday forum

Three of the four candidates for Kenai City Council convened in the Kenai Community Library on Thursday evening to share their thoughts on waterfront revitalization,… Continue reading

Teea Winger, Henry Knackstedt and Phil Daniel participate in a Kenai City Council candidate forum at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A 2022 voter information pamphlet rests on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Where to find voter pamphlets

Be educated about what you are voting on

A 2022 voter information pamphlet rests on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion From left: Paul Whitney, Chera Wackler, Garrett Dominick and Dan Nelson participate in a Soldotna City Council candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday.

Election 2023: Soldotna candidates talk city’s future at Monday forum

The forum, hosted in partnership with the Central Peninsula League of Women Voters and the Soldotna Public Library, is the first of eight being held ahead of the Oct. 3 municipal election

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion From left: Paul Whitney, Chera Wackler, Garrett Dominick and Dan Nelson participate in a Soldotna City Council candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday.
Forum flyer by Ashlyn O'Hara.

Election 2023: 1st Clarion, KDLL candidate forum is Monday

Three city council candidates and one mayor candidate will share their thoughts about issues facing Soldotna

Forum flyer by Ashlyn O'Hara.
Sample ballots are displayed ahead of the Oct. 4 municipal election at an absentee in-person polling place in Kenai City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Election 2023: Voter registration deadline is Sunday

Election day is Tuesday, Oct. 3

Sample ballots are displayed ahead of the Oct. 4 municipal election at an absentee in-person polling place in Kenai City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
2023 Candidate forum flyer. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Election 2023: Clarion, KDLL to hold in-person candidate forum series

The forums will be held Mondays and Thursdays in September

2023 Candidate forum flyer. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A voting booth for the Kenai Peninsula Borough and City of Homer elections at Cowles Council Chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)

Election 2023: Here’s who’s running

Seats are open on city councils, the borough assembly, the school board and numerous service area boards

A voting booth for the Kenai Peninsula Borough and City of Homer elections at Cowles Council Chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)
Sample ballots are displayed ahead of the Oct. 4 municipal election at an absentee in-person polling place in Kenai City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Election 2023: Who has already filed for local office

Voters will go to the polls this fall

Sample ballots are displayed ahead of the Oct. 4 municipal election at an absentee in-person polling place in Kenai City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
From left, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members Bill Elam, Brent Johnson, Tyson Cox and Brent Hibbert attend an assembly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Election issues tackled at assembly

The body created a voter turnout working group and approved other changes to borough election code

From left, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members Bill Elam, Brent Johnson, Tyson Cox and Brent Hibbert attend an assembly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A Mackey Lake voter fills out a special mayoral ballot at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Candidate filing period for local offices now open

Aspiring candidates will have until Aug. 15 to file their candidacy

A Mackey Lake voter fills out a special mayoral ballot at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
People vote in polling booths at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

3 cities oppose alignment of borough, state election days

The Soldotna City Council on Wednesday became the latest group to object to the proposed alignment

People vote in polling booths at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A Mackey Lake voter fills out a special mayoral ballot at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Resources for those seeking local office available this week

Seats on city councils, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly and the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education will be up for grabs

A Mackey Lake voter fills out a special mayoral ballot at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
People vote in polling booths at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly bumps vote on resolution that would ask voters whether to align state, local election days

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday voted to postpone until August a vote on legislation that would ask peninsula voters whether to align local… Continue reading

People vote in polling booths at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship oversees the testing of voting equipment ahead of the Oct. 5, 2021, municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough proposes changes to write-in candidate rules

The changes are being proposed in response to questions that came up after the most recent special mayoral election

Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship oversees the testing of voting equipment ahead of the Oct. 5, 2021, municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The entrance to the Homer Electric Association office is seen here in Kenai, Alaska, on May 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Duffield, Levine retain seats on HEA board

Dan Green, of Soldotna, secured more votes than incumbent director C.O. Rudstrom

The entrance to the Homer Electric Association office is seen here in Kenai, Alaska, on May 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
Snow falls on a "vote here" sign outside of Seward City Hall on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 in Seward, Alaska. Residents voted in a special election to determine whether or not to sell the city’s electric utility and to change the city’s residency requirements for city manager. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

7 votes kill Seward utility sale

The decision not to sell the City of Seward’s electric utility to Homer Electric Association came down to just seven votes, unofficial final election results… Continue reading

Snow falls on a "vote here" sign outside of Seward City Hall on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 in Seward, Alaska. Residents voted in a special election to determine whether or not to sell the city’s electric utility and to change the city’s residency requirements for city manager. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow falls on a “vote here” sign outside of Seward City Hall on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in Seward, Alaska. Residents voted in a special election to determine whether or not to sell the city’s electric utility and to change the city’s residency requirements for city manager. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Voters weigh in on future of Seward electric utility

This story has been updated with the latest results. A majority of Seward residents on Tuesday voted in favor of the city selling its electric… Continue reading

Snow falls on a “vote here” sign outside of Seward City Hall on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in Seward, Alaska. Residents voted in a special election to determine whether or not to sell the city’s electric utility and to change the city’s residency requirements for city manager. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)