In Alaska, We Count Every Vote
Alaskans voted from every corner of the state, from Utqiaġvik to Ketchikan. Now every eligible ballot gets counted. Ballots from rural communities, military members, and Alaskans overseas are still arriving, and each one holds as much weight as a ballot cast on Election Day. Election night results are only the start, and totals will change as more Alaskans’ ballots are counted. Follow along until every voice is heard.
Know Your Dates
Counting continues for weeks after Election Day. These are the dates that matter between now and final results:
Polls close at 8:00 p.m., and unofficial results start posting that night.
November 3
Absentee, early, and questioned ballots are counted.
November 10
Last day for mail ballots sent from inside the U.S. to arrive.
November 13
Last day for mail ballots sent from outside the U.S. to arrive.
Final count, plus ranked choice tabulation where it's needed.
November 18
Target date for the State Review Board to certify results.
November 25
How Alaska Counts
Why aren't the results final on election night?
In Alaska, a mail ballot counts if it’s postmarked by November 3 and arrives by November 13, or by November 18 if it was mailed from outside the U.S. Counting continues until every eligible ballot is in.
Who checks the ballots?
Bipartisan review boards check absentee and questioned ballots before they’re counted. Each time ballots are handled or moved, election workers sign for them.
Does anyone see how I voted?
No. Review boards check the envelope, not your choices. Once a ballot is approved, it’s separated from its envelope before it’s counted.
When does ranked choice tabulation happen?
If no candidate gets more than half of first-choice votes, ranked choice tabulation runs on November 18, once all ballots are in. Until then, results show first choices only.
How are results confirmed?
Alaska votes on paper ballots. Audits confirm that the voting equipment counted accurately, and a bipartisan State Review Board reviews the results before they’re certified.
How do I know my ballot was counted?
Call your regional elections office. The Division of Elections mails a notice if a ballot isn’t counted.
Alaskans Decide Alaska’s Elections
In Alaska, every eligible voter gets a say, and the result reflects what Alaskans chose. Some actors inside and outside of Alaska are trying to cast doubt on our results before the votes are even counted, because it serves their purposes, not ours. As Alaskans, we won’t let that happen.
Under Alaska law, Alaska’s own election process decides the results. Paper ballots, bipartisan review, audits, and the State Review Board all stand behind every result. Certification is set for November 25, and Alaskans will be watching every step.