Progressive political groups have sued Alaska elections officials over the closure of rural absentee voting sites ahead of the general election, alleging violations of the state constitution. The Alaska Division of Elections faces two lawsuits filed by the Midnight Sun Independence Fund and the Alaska Democratic Party, which claim at least 18 designated voting locations in rural areas were not operational during early voting, which began Oct. 19. The suits seek court orders to compel the division to open the sites, with a hearing scheduled for Monday, the day before Election Day.
The complaints highlight closures in communities such as Chignik Bay, Point Lay, and Toksook Bay, where voters rely on absentee in-person locations due to limited access to traditional polling places. Both lawsuits name Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher and the division as defendants. The Alaska Department of Law, which represents state agencies in legal disputes, did not respond to requests for comment.
Lawsuits Alleging Voting Site Closures
The Midnight Sun Independence Fund, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, and the Alaska Democratic Party filed the suits days before the Nov. 5 election. The complaints state that the division’s website listed five locations as “temporarily closed” as of Oct. 28 and removed three others entirely. Early voting locations are primarily concentrated in urban areas, while rural voters depend on absentee sites, which are often staffed by limited personnel.
Rural Communities at Center of Legal Battle
The legal challenges mirror concerns raised by Alaska Native voting advocacy groups during the August primary, when staffing shortages led to polling place closures. The suits argue that the closures disproportionately affect rural, predominantly Alaska Native communities, exacerbating existing barriers such as harsh weather and transportation difficulties. A judge has ordered a hearing on the first lawsuit, which was filed Oct. 28, with the Alaska Democratic Party’s case also addressing the issue.
The Alaska Division of Elections did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lawsuits come as rural voters continue to face logistical hurdles in exercising their right to vote, a pattern that has persisted despite previous calls for reform.
