Alaska Begins Early Voting for Nonpartisan Primary Election

Early in-person voting began across Alaska on August 4, 2026, ahead of the statewide primary election on August 18. The Alaska Division of Elections is managing a nonpartisan open primary where the top four candidates for Governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and state legislative seats will advance to a ranked-choice general election in November. Voters are also deciding on a ballot question to reinstate campaign contribution limits.

In Anchorage, the Division of Elections moved a high-traffic early voting site from its Gambell Street office to the Midtown Mall to better accommodate crowds and weather. The transition faced early hurdles as some voters struggled to locate the mall entrance or were unaware of the change. To assist the public, a consortium of media outlets including the Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Public Media released a 2026 Alaska Primary Voter Guide.

Absentee voting is seeing significant activity, with 9,981 requests recorded as of July 31. The Alaska Republican Party and Alaska Democratic Party are both urging voters to use mail-in ballots, despite President Donald Trump characterizing such voting as "cheating." Data indicates that registered party members are requesting absentee ballots at a higher rate than nonpartisan voters. The state expects to certify final results by August 31.