Dominion voting machines have been banned from all Mat-Su Borough elections, starting next year.
In a 6-1 vote on Oct. 4, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly eliminated any and all voting machines from local elections, and mandated that all tabulation happen via transparent hand counting.
The only Assembly member to vote against the ban was Stephanie Nowers.
In the months and weeks leading up to the vote, hundreds of concerned citizens testified against the use of voting machines. The new tabulation policy will go into effect as of Jan. 1, 2023.
Before the vote, Nowers and Assemblyman Tim Hale attempted to delay the measure until February 2023. That motion failed, and Hale eventually voted in favor of the voting machine ban.
The upcoming Nov. 8 election will include machine counting, but that will be the last time. The delay is due to the fact that borough elections are only a month away and there was concern that there wouldn’t be enough time to implement the new policy.
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The new law requires a hand count of all ballots at the precinct level on election night. It also stipulates that poll watchers must be allowed to observe the tabulation process.
Additionally, the ordinance mandates that all absentee and questioned ballots be hand counted with observers allowed to watch.
The approved ordinance also states that poll watchers must be able to “clearly see and hear all activities taken to hand count the ballots.” This includes the ability to hear discussions among counting officials regarding how a vote should count. Additionally, the ordinance lets poll watchers observe all early vote count locations.
16 Comments
Let’s hope this catches on with the rest of Alaska and especially in Anchorage.
I’d love to see it! Citizen’s petition!
This is great but should be done now before the Nov. election. We are very serious about election integrity in the Mat-Su thank-you to the Assembly .
And also in Fairbanks. This is a miracle in the making with the Mat-Su borough leading us in a less corrupt direction. Wen need to be on our knees thanking the Lord for His grace and mercy. We need to be in daily prayer with the Daily Minute of Prayer website suggesting 8 pm CST for the whole country. We pray daily @ 5 pm to match up with the rest of the US. Go to the website and pray at 5 pm AST along with the rest of us. Thank you to the Mat-Su valley!
The KPB assembly is corrupt and would never do this. Perhaps getting a prop on the ballot is a better solution here.
Vote in better assembly people, too!
My house is on fire but wait for months to call the fire department. Brilliant but It’s a start.
What is particularly notable about tonight’s vote is that the request to eliminate Dominion voting machines did not initially come from a member of the borough assembly, but from concerned citizens. The powers that be drug their heels on this from November 2020 until now, and even tried a last-ditch vote to postpone voting on the policy for another four months, but Mat-Su residents insisted that the foot-dragging stop and that our elected representatives walk the walk that some of them have been talking for two years.
Thank you to the six members who voted “yea”. The message to the rest of us in this is that when the people truly insist on fixing a problem, our elected officials will come on board (some begrudgingly). There is more work to be done here.
agreed. it shows that people have a line and when fed up will respond. i personally know several who testified, went to meetings etc. Convention yes…….
Who’s the clown that voted against it and when are they up for election?
“The upcoming Nov. 8 election will include machine counting, but that will be the last time. The delay is due to the fact that borough elections are only a month away and there was concern that there wouldn’t be enough time to implement the new policy.” How hard is it to unplug a machine?
WE the People!
yay!
A victory, we’re moving in the right direction, let’s keep it moving! We’re along way behind, do not get comfortable!
Ron Burgundy, I agree with you. We had hand counting in the past. Apparently, everyone was afraid that they would get electrocuted trying to unplug the machines??? Ha.
David Eastman, thank you for the input on this topic. I am glad that the voters were able to get a move made on this. I just hope that there will be “a next year” after this 2022 election.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO GET OUT AND VOTE ON VOTING DAY, not earlier and not mail-in. Encourage your neighbors and friends to get out and vote. Great news, but the work is not done!
Holy guacamole this is the best news I’ve heard all year. Just one more reason to move away from Las Anchorage.