Huge numbers of Alaskans are voting early and absentee, but many ballots won’t be tallied until later

Four years ago, 75,357 Alaskans voted before Election Day. This year, Alaska is already at 61% of that total, and Election Day is still two weeks away.

The COVID-19 pandemic and interest in the presidential election have driven record interest in voting before Election Day. New figures are being posted online daily.

Nationally, more than 35 million Americans have already voted, equivalent to more than 25% of all votes cast in the 2016 election, according to the U.S. Elections Project.

According to data released Tuesday morning by the Alaska Division of Elections, 42,596 absentee voters had returned their ballots to the state, and 3,726 voters have cast early votes in person.

Combined, that’s over 14% of all votes — early and not — cast four years ago in Alaska.

Another 80,000 absentee ballots have been mailed to voters but have not yet been returned.

That pattern means the final results of many state races may not be accurately reflected in election night returns.

Voters who visit early voting stations through Oct. 29 will have their ballots counted on Election Day. Early votes cast after that date — and all absentee ballots — will not be counted until at least Nov. 10.

“All results are unofficial, unofficial, unofficial until the state review board completes their counting,” said Gail Fenumiai, director of the Alaska Division of Elections, in a call with reporters on Monday.

That delay occurs because the state compares the roster of people on Election Day to those who voted beforehand. If someone voted twice, their absentee vote is rejected, and the Election Day vote is counted instead.

[2020 Alaska election guide: Where to cast your ballot, how to make sure it’s counted, how to learn about candidates and issues]

Saturday is the deadline for the state to receive a voter’s request for an absentee ballot by mail. Any Alaskan can request to vote absentee by mail for any reason. An online form is available at absenteeballotapplication.alaska.gov.

The U.S. Postal Service recommends mailing completed absentee ballots by Oct. 27. State law says any absentee ballot postmarked by Election Day and received before Nov. 10 will be counted. (Ballots mailed from overseas can arrive as late as Nov. 18.)

In Anchorage, early voting will continue through Nov. 2 at the Midtown Mall (600 E. Northern Lights Blvd.) and Anchorage City Hall (632 W. Sixth Ave.) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Nov. 3, both locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.