A group of concerned Anchorage voters filed an official contest challenging legitimacy of the April 4 municipal election, and claiming that tens of thousands of voters were disenfranchised.
“We submit this contest due to the disenfranchisement of 36,143 voters (15% of registered voters) who were not mailed an ‘election announcement’ postcard or ballot package,” the official contest states. “Who made this decision, what criteria was used and was an MOA contractor involved, in any way, to facilitate this decision-making process?”
Daniel Smith is one of the 11 registered Anchorage voters who filed the challenge on May 4. City code stipulates that it takes one candidate or 10 registered voters to challenge an election. Additionally, an official contest must allege one or more of the following grounds for challenging the election.
“It is unclear why or how this happened. This is a violation of municipal code, Alaska statute and the United States Constitution.”
— Misconduct, fraud or corruption on the part of an election official sufficient to change the result of the election.
— The person certified as elected is not qualified as required by law.
— Any corrupt practice as defined by law sufficient to change the result of the election.
“As I understand the code, the next step is for the Anchorage Assembly to review and take action on the challenge, if they choose to do anything at all,” Smith said.
On April 25, the Assembly voted to certify the results, which entailed a 28% voter turnout that saw most hard left candidates defeat more conservative opponents by wide margins.
“It was explained to the challengers by the election commission that an election could not be challenged unless the election was first certified,” Smith explained. “So, we are challenging the certification of the election. We are curious to see what, if any, resolution the Anchorage Assembly offers. We are not sure what the normal resolution is when you have 36,000 plus voters who were disenfranchised.”
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In addition to the 36,000-plus voters who were not mailed election announcement postcards or ballot packages, the contest notes that 1,193 registered voters did not receive a ballot by mail for the 2023 MOA election despite having successfully voted in the State of Alaska November 8, 2022, General Election.
“In summary, 36,143 registered voters were disenfranchised from voting in the Municipality of Anchorage April 4, 2023, municipal election,” the contest states. “It is unclear why or how this happened. This is a violation of municipal code, Alaska statute and the United States Constitution.”
Smith said those who filed the contest do not have current plans to file a lawsuit against the city.
“But that is dependent on the Assembly review and what resolution the Assembly might offer,” he added.
22 Comments
Good news! Thank you to these good folks for standing up to put forth their questions about the election! I hope that their case moves forward. Prayers for the humanity-loving people of Anchorage!
Well if you needed a ballot a person I know got 6 ballots and I received 3 on the first mail in ballot. I’m sure it was an oversize. I was told to fill them out and drop them into tge box. I said no my name is on them and I know it’s one vote per person. If I used all three it would be voter fraud. I wasn’t going to prison for someone else’s mistake. This mail in voting crap is a shit show. We never get to know until so far after an election we forgot there was an election. Where’s the celebration party? I’d rather have hanging shads again at least that was simple to figure out who you punched out. All the fancy dominion machines and this mail in stuff doesn’t work fairly for all, and now we have 36,000+ that didn’t even get to vote. I say we need a revote. Do over with everyone to get a fair and equal opportunity.
Thank You Daniel Smith.
Mail in ballots and rank choice voting is cheating
Except they aren’t.
Ah, Lucy, always the sign of contradiction. Don’t you have some parked cars to chase?
Lucy, why don’t you take your ignorance to another web site that would appreciate it.
Ranked choice and mail in ballots allow for fraud, misconduct and disenfranchise voters. When outside Alaskan money is supporting and pushing agendas within the state, ie local electric company v board of directors as well as senate seats, its well past time to require in person voting and voter identification.
Wait, I just received my mail in ballots, one for the last person living here and two others for my children that no longer live here for years. I guess I’ll vote all extra ballots that I received. Then I’ll give my ballots to some harvesting person knocking on my door that I don’t even know.
And the 4th ranked person wins the election.
What a screwed up system, again it’s all about cheating
Since we started this “vote by mail” I’ve had 3 legal votes discarded without being counted.
It’s a scam system
You realize that your votes were discarded for being incorrectly filled out, right? Intense scrutiny of ballots is a conservative issue, the same as voter ID – you get what you ask for, it’s no one else’s fault you’re too dumb to fill your ballot out right, Jay. Try harder next time big boy.
And how do you know how he filled out his ballot???? Very interesting comment for somebody that chose the name “common sense”.
You should thank Mike pacarro personally. He’s responsible for it!
It may get scary if Americans ever get to a point where they do not have a vote anymore…
This whole system is rigged and has made me cynical for the first time in my life. Does anyone really think the assembly will do anything? But I applaud those will to make the effort to fight what is quickly becoming systematic voter injustice.
I sincerely doubt dunleavy or his AG give a crap about this! He’s apparently too busy studying how Sweden plants trees! His legacy is and will always be good for nothing!
Hey Sheila looking for you to weigh in!?
This is for the municipal election, not the state wide election.
Yes they get town by town & then when it’s prolific & the sheep are all following along, they pass it statewide.
That’s the liberal play. Pay attention
“intense scrutiny” – such a dumb comment. The muni sends thousands of ballots out of state to people unlawfully registered to vote in those other states. There was a Florida woman just charged with voter fraud who voted in at least 3 cycles in both AK and Florida. that’s not intense, nor scrutiny, genius.
True, my brother moved out of state 15 years ago and received a ballot for last year’s election. He had not, to his knowledge, received them at prior addresses in the state he moved to. But when he bought a house, he received a ballot. How did that happen?
Tamra. I post here to bring the sweet cool water of truth to your desiccated withered beliefs.
Ha. Stop with the lies already Lucinda. You post here because you are paid to post oppositional lies to the truth that is being told.