Fairbanks North Star Borough holds two service area elections

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Two times a year, communities around the Fairbanks North Star Borough, can vote to decide what services they’ll receive.

From fire services to road maintenance, residents from these areas elect what they’re willing to pay taxes for. Borough Clerk April Trickey explained, “This is your voice. This is your time to come out and put your voice on a ballot.”

This November, the Wildview community around Gold Mine Trail is deciding whether to annex more properties into its Road Service Area.

At the same time, the Pleasant Valley Two Rivers Service Area is voting on whether or not to dissolve the fire service area voted into place a year ago.

At that time, the election drew controversy from residents opposed to the fire service, who claimed that misinformation and lack of outreach from the borough had kept community members out of the polls.

Both elections are being run by absentee voting. To qualify, “First you have to be a registered voter with the State of Alaska, just like in any other type of election, but then you have to reside within the service area boundaries,” Trickey said.

Ballots can be filled out in-person at the borough Clerks office from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. “When you fill out voting in-person absentee, you’re required to complete and oath, an affidavit, and it also includes some identifiers,” she said.

This opportunity started October 27, and continues until Election Day, November 21. On that day, “We are also going to do an absentee voting station out at the community center, in the Two Rivers Community Center,” according to Trickey.

Residents can also request a ballot by mail until November 14, or electronically until noon the day before election day. When filled out, “You have to sign it, date it, and get it postmarked the day of the election for it to count,” Trickey said.

These ballots must be received by the borough by seven days after Election Day.

Voting hours for the Two Rivers Community Center on Election Day are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

More information about the elections can be found here.

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