Alaska's ballot grace period could affect voters in remote communities

Alaska counts mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day if they arrive within 10 days (15 days for overseas ballots), and residents in isolated villages say flights, weather and long distances make that grace period essential as a pending U.S. Supreme Court case could change the rule.

Alaska's many remote communities depend on air service for mail, supplies and voting materials, and some villages are reachable only by plane. The state allows mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive within 10 days, and overseas ballots in general elections have a 15-day window. A challenge from Mississippi before the U.S. Supreme Court could require ballots to be received by Election Day, prompting concern in places where weather and distance regularly delay mail. The state's voting process, including ranked-choice tabulation done in Juneau, adds additional steps that can be affected by late arrivals. Key facts: - The village of Beaver is about 40 minutes by plane from the nearest city and has roughly 50 residents. - Many Alaskan communities rely on weekday flights to receive mail, groceries and ballots. - Alaska counts mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day if they are received within 10 days, and allows 15 days for overseas ballots in general elections. - Alaska is one of 14 states that allow mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive later and still be counted. - Under Alaska's ranked-choice system, local precincts relay first-choice counts regionally, and ballots are ultimately flown to the Division of Elections in Juneau for final tabulation. - In 2022 some village ballots arrived 15 days after Election Day and were not fully counted because of mail delays. Summary: A Supreme Court ruling that ballots must be received by Election Day could affect many Alaskans who depend on mail and air service for returning ballots, given the state's current grace period and the need to fly ballots to Juneau for tabulation. Undetermined at this time.