Fairbanks North Star Borough prepares for early voting on September 19

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The 2022 municipal elections in the Fairbanks North Star Borough are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, October 4.

However, the Shoppers Forum will be open for early voting from September 19 to 29.

According to Borough Clerk April Trickey, “Here at the early voting station, we have the ballots for the borough. We have the ballots for both the City of Fairbanks and the City of North Pole, so when a person comes in, they’ll receive their borough ballot, and if they are also a registered voter within the City of Fairbanks, they’ll also receive their city ballot and they can vote both ballots here.”

On September 16, borough employees were busy setting up polls for those looking to vote.

They’ve even added a selfie station for voters to use after they’ve cast their ballot.

In the borough, residents are voting for 3 seats on the assembly and 2 seats on the school board.

In Fairbanks, 2 seats on the city council are open, as is the position of city mayor.

Meanwhile, North Pole is looking to fill 2 seats on its city council. As there are two candidates on the ballot for these positions, each is essentially running unopposed.

This year, the borough found another way to educate voters. “We’ve worked with both the City of Fairbanks and the City of North Pole and have issued a candidate pamphlet,” Trickey said.

These pamphlets include biographical information and nonpartisan mission statements from candidates who submitted them.

The 2022 Candidate Pamphlets are available to view online at the Fairbanks North Star Borough website and can be found at the borough clerk’s office in the Juanita Helms Administration Center.

Early voting is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 10:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 25.

These races do not involve ranked-choice voting, which only applies to state and national seats.

The results of early and in-person voting are expected on election day. Absentee and questioned ballots will be counted 7 days after that.

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