Alaska absentee and mail ballot guide
Alaska absentee ballot overview
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the request deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
Alaska absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 10 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 10 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 10 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Alaska absentee ballot rules
Any registered Alaska voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Alaska online ballot request (recommended)
- Visit the Alaska absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 10 days before Election Day.
Alaska by-mail ballot request
- Download the Alaska absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 10 days before Election Day.
Alaska in-person ballot request
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 10 days before Election Day.
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Alaska absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
To submit an application online or by using a paper application, you will need to provide the last 4 digits of your social security number and either your Alaska driver's license number or state ID number. The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter file to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
You must include a driver's license number, Social Security number, or voter ID number. Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Alaska absentee ballot tracker
Track your ballot here: Alaska absentee ballot tracker
Alaska absentee ballot curing
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign the outside envelope.
- Your ballot will also be rejected if it's missing a witness signature or notary signature.
Alaska emergency ballots
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot RulesAlaska law has no reference to emergency ballots.
Alaska does not offer emergency ballots.
Contact your local election office
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Alaska elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Division of Elections State of Alaska PO Box 110017 Juneau, AK 99811‐0017
External resources
- Alaska online voter registration
- Alaska online absentee ballot request
- Alaska voter status lookup
- Alaska absentee ballot tracker
- Alaska polling place locator