How to vote in Alaska
Alaska voter registration guide
Alaska voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 30 days before Election Day
Check your Alaska voter registration status
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Alaska registration using the Alaska voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
Alaska voter registration rules
To register in Alaska you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be 18 years old within 90 days of completing your registration
- be a resident of Alaska for at least 30 days just before the election.
Alaska online voter registration
You can register to vote online if you have an Alaska driver license, driver permit, or nondriver ID card.
- Visit the Alaska online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 30 days before Election Day .
Alaska by-mail voter registration
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your Alaska driver’s license or Alaska State Identification card number. If you don't have one, enter the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you don't have any of these numbers, write “NONE” in the box.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: Alaska has a closed primary system. If you do not register for a political party, you will not be able to vote in that party's primary.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked 30 days before Election Day .
Alaska in-person voter registration
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Alaska driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Alaska address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Alaska same day registration
Registering to vote in Alaska with a felony conviction
Certain felony convictions – Arson, Assault, Bribery, or Burglary make you ineligible to vote while in prison, on parole, or on probation. Your voting rights are automatically restored upon completion of your sentence. If you have any other type of conviction or are awaiting trial, you can register and vote whether in or out of prison. Alaska restoration information
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 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 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 state-provided drop box. 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
Alaska early voting guide
Alaska early voting dates
- Early voting starts: 15 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
What to bring
You must show a non-expired ID at the polls. You can show a driver's license from any state, a US passport or passport card, a tribal ID, a military ID, or any other photo ID issued by any state or federal agency. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or any other government document that shows your name and current address. You can also show your voter registration card or your birth certificate. If you are unable to provide any of these, you may still vote using a provisional ballot.
Alaska voter ID guide
ID requirements for voting in person
You must show a non-expired ID at the polls. You can show a driver's license from any state, a US passport or passport card, a tribal ID, a military ID, or any other photo ID issued by any state or federal agency. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or any other government document that shows your name and current address. You can also show your voter registration card or your birth certificate. If you are unable to provide any of these, you may still vote using a provisional ballot.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail 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 requirements when returning an absentee or mail 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.
ID requirements for online voter registration
You can register to vote online if you have an Alaska driver license, driver permit, or nondriver ID card.
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