One week later, more than one-quarter of Alaska votes still haven’t been counted
Published Tuesday, November 11, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — More than a fourth of all votes for state and federal races still have to be counted in Alaska — and the race for U.S. Senate and several state contests are hanging in the balance.
To this point, official totals only include votes cast at the polls Nov. 4.
At last count on Sunday afternoon, 90,635 ballots had been received but needed to be counted. Those include absentee ballots, early voting and questioned ballots, state Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai said.
About 15,620 ballots have been received, but not counted, in Region Three, which covers the Interior and where a final count could flip four tight state legislative races.
And ballots keep coming in, although Alaskans should have preliminary results Wednesday and a final word between Nov. 17 and 19.
Absentee ballots — the state sent out 44,900 — had to be postmarked Nov. 4, and will be accepted through Nov. 19. Other absentee options, such as in-person absentee voting, voting by fax and special-needs voting, also remain to be counted, Fenumiai said.
But before the ballots can be counted, staffers are checking off early and absentee voters’ names against the registry of those weighing in at the polls.
Absentee and early ballots were not counted Nov. 4 due to a special rule implemented after 36 people voted more than once in the primary election, Fenumiai said. Of those, 26 ballots were counted twice.
“That was a growing concern for us,” Fenumiai said. “This process we implemented did take some extra time, but we really feel it was in the best interest of the state to do it, to ensure the principle of one person, one vote.”
The new rule called for a cross-check of absentee and early voter names against a registry of people voting at the polls, thereby delaying a count. Fenumiai said her office has found some duplicates, but would not release a number yet.
“We are finding some,” she said. “The good part of all this is, even though it has taken time and causes a lot of speculation, their second ballots are not being counted.”
Most Interior races could be decided Wednesday, when the Division of Elections plans to tally most absentee and early votes from districts where those votes have been checked against poll registries. The division expects about 50,000 such ballots will be counted this week.
Question ballots — those handed to voters at polls Nov. 4 who weren’t listed on the precinct rolls — are also still trickling in, Fenumiai said.
“We have some very rural areas of the state,” she explained. “It takes a while to get things to us.”
Question ballots are often set aside on Election Day, and aren’t counted until they reach the state office days later. Fenumiai is waiting for ballots from Coffman Cove and Port Alexander in Southeast Alaska, as well as some locations in rural, remote District Six, among other places.
Other states allow local counts, which are forwarded to the state as results. Fenumiai said she prefers Alaska’s system, despite the potential delays.
“I believe we are the only state in the nation that conducts state and federal elections at the state level,” she said. “There is consistency. The same laws apply, the same procedures are in place. There is one ballot-counting system being used.”
Her office has not yet decided when question ballots will be counted.
Several state legislative races are too close to call with so many votes uncounted, although House Majority Leader Rep. Mike Chenault, a Republican from Kenai, said his party is confident it will hold onto leads made on Nov. 4.
“A lot of it depends on what type of voters they were,” he said. Early voting could weigh heavier for Democrats, while absentee ballots trend Republican. Question ballots, he said, often balance out.
A legislative meeting was held last week to staff committees, he said. Those appointed, including Reps. Mike Kelly and Jay Ramras from Fairbanks, were leading by “a decent margin,” Chenault said.
If Republicans do lose a few races, assignments can be renegotiated, he added.
For now, he’s watching as results trickle in during an abnormal election year.
“We’ll see whose crystal ball is clearest,” Chenault said.
The red-hot race between Alaska’s 40-year U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, and Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich is pending a final ballot count.
Stevens was convicted about a week before the election on seven felony counts of violating financial disclosure rules. He netted an Election Day lead of about 3,200 votes over Begich, with thousands still to be counted.
The Nov. 4 poll counts gave Rep. Don Young a steady lead against Democratic challenger Ethan Berkowitz. However, with more than a fourth of all Alaska votes uncounted, the result is still up in the air.
Contact staff writer Rena Delbridge at 459-7518.
Community Discussion
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And when will Alaska criminally prosecute those who voted twice?
Those who tried to cheat their fellow citizens out of a fair election deserve to be publicly identified, disgraced and sent to jail.
It would also be interesting to learn what party affiliation these cheats held.
The delay is frustrating...but survivable.
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Look at the bright side. We haven't had to hear about Ted Stevens for a week.
I recommend that we employee those that count and document the Nenana Ice Classic each year to handle the counting of the election ballots. Isn't it strange how the residents of Nenana are able to hand count all of those tickets in a timely fashion with meager means while were still trying to re-invent the wheel in election ballot counting. I fore-see a goverment study brewing to solve yet another mystery.
What would you people who are so inpatient had done years back when the news on TV was the day before news because of the plane bringing it in and if the plane couldn't make it in they would just rerun a previous days news. At least back then Alaskans realized that there are some things in life that really aren't all that important in the big picture.
I agree with Tonto 12. Those who voted twice should be known to the public and pilloried in the press. They may have thought it was a joke. They need to be taught a lesson.
We used to have the most efficient computer system in the country. Now we are the slowest, sad.
Anyone who votes more than once is breaking the law, right? They should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law if that is true.
Isn't voting more then once a felony? Wouldn't it be ironic in a twisted way, engaging in a felony by voting more then once for a felon. Who would be that stupid anyhow to vote more then once? One or 2 extra votes wouldn't sway their candidate one way or another but would be very costly if convicted for voter fraud.
Let me tell you 6 or 8 days wait to get a good result is no big deal. As for voting twice it not right and should be prosecuted.
I don't really understand why we do the checking first and then count ballots, instead of counting the ballots and then double checking.
There were 20 something double votes in the Republican primary. Let's make that number bigger, and say 1000 people double voted. With 300,000 total votes, that's 0.333% or 1/3rd of 1%; now it's certainly enough that it could matter in our tight local elections, but if those 1000 votes are spread out across the state then I think it's unlikely to.
So at least we then have a good idea of the results, and then the state can take it's time (it has until the 19th to count them), without holding up the counting process.
Other states who count millions of ballots on election day manage to make this work smoothly, how is it that we can't count 300,000?
Why do we have early voting anyway? I mean, I've never heard of it until this year. Used to be people could vote absentee early. It's not like this is some big city, with hours long waits. Even then, if somebody doesn't like it--absentee vote.
I prefer the old punch cards by far anyway. Besides that I think they are a lot more reliable, it used to really fun to hang out at the Westmark until the wee hours and then some.
I don't mind the wait so much. But I really don't get this early voting thing.
Someone votes twice, through the book at them. Governor is found to acted in an unethical manner, and the Senator is found GUILTY on Felony charges... let's just make excuses and blow it off?
Unfortunately this state, NO ONE is unbiased when it comes to these votes. Especially the situation with Stevens. How many people benefit either way? how can you trust ANYONE!? What, the Vice Governor, answering to Palin, who WANTS Uncle Ted's seat?
I want a full blown investigation, by Federal personnel, NOT some corrupt Alaskans. This state is so darn corrupt, and NOW everyone knows it.
I wholeheartedly agree, if someone voted twice, take away their future right to vote and prosecute them quickly and efficiently. The most basic of our freedoms is to be heard by our vote. Imo there are few things more unamerican than trying to circumvent our most basic right and premises.
Alaska needs to demand a recount, like Florida.
So unfair. I wonder which part of the state's votes did not get counted, or are finally being counted.
No freedom here, just hypocrisy and lies.
No "and justice for all..."
Where's that part of our constitution, I feel cheated.
Where are the state's leaders in all this?
Are we counting votes with an abacus?!?
This whole delay is incredibly embarrassing to our state. This is 2008 and they do make things called computers! God help us if Alaska is ever a battleground state...
Newsminer: perhaps an editorial on this topic is appropriate?
Anyone heard from Sean Parnell lately???
Well, folks, maybe this will just make the winter more fun. Say, in January, Stevens is behind, so his opponent goes to Washington - but in March the numbers change - so Stevens takes off. I could see this replacing many TV shows and providing some good conversation with the Northern Lights. A good election is something to be savored!
I'm almost done. Be patient.
Hey mom--as if we'll have election results by March the way Parnell's office is counting ballots. Perhaps we should just give the ballots to local kindergarten classes to count. They would probably get the job done faster...
And congratulations again, Alaska, for being the laughing stock of the L48.
In all fairness, on at least two occasions in recent years, absentee ballots were mailed so late that I did not receive mine in time for the deadline. I had to go to the polls to vote. I can see a senior citizen easily becoming confused in such a situation. You vote at the polls, then you receive your absentee ballot. You think, "I was supposed to vote absentee. What if I don't mail this in? Will my vote still count?" A handful of duplicate votes can easily be simple mistakes. If you don't agree, you're not a senior citizen yet!
Absentee ballots are not late until after Nov. 19. Anyone have a suggestion for speeding up time? Otherwise, we may not have a final tally until -- guess when -- Nov. 19! Why the despair about justice? They're counting the votes -- justice is happening, no worries. And Palin unethical? The election is over so we can stop the silly smear campaign now.
Anyone who votes twice should be incarcerated.
Unless they voted exactly as I did. Then they should be allowed to vote at least a few more times as well.
Unless a person is incapacitated to the point they can't get around or they're serving in our military overseas, all voting should take place at the polls on ELECTION DAY. We have a day called ELECTION DAY for a reason. This burgeoning trend of people voting early and through the mail is costing needless spending, and leaving us vulnerable to fraud. One person, one vote...cast on election day the way your grandparents did it...well, except for the optical scanners...
It would be more effective to make Election Day a national holiday, or move it to the weekend and give everyone ample opportunity to their civic doo-dee.
People found to be committing voter fraud should be charged with a felony and sentenced to a year in jail. Iraq had a more secure and credible election than we seem capable of pulling off.
I cannot beleive that American's have lead the Iraqui people to "freedom" and THEY have found a better way to avoid voter fraud. I'd gladly dip my finger into the ink to prove I've voted and exclude fraudlaunt voters from voting multiple times.
Dr. C-
Funny!
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