Florida, with a population of 20 million, called it a night just four hours after polls closed, while Alaska, a state that could fit its entire voter base into a Tampa Bay neighborhood, is still counting.
Seriously, how is it that the state with fewer people than most cities can’t manage a timely vote count, especially when this race is for Alaska’s seat in Congress?
It’s like déjà vu from previous elections, where we also waited for what felt like forever. All of this raises questions about how our state officials are handling this – ahem, former Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer, who didn’t exactly give Alaska a squeaky-clean elections process, and now his successor, Nancy Dahlstrom, seems just fine with keeping up the delay-filled tradition.
Now, Lt. Gov. Dahlstrom has two main duties: keeping the State Seal safe and ensuring our elections run smoothly. But with this sluggish vote count and a handful of excuses that barely hold water, Alaskans are starting to wonder if the State Seal might as well be on the endangered list.
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And in case things weren’t wild enough, there’s a rumor that Gov. Dunleavy could be heading to Washington if Trump taps him for a role in his administration. Sounds out there, but then again, Trump has surprised us with his picks before. Should Dunleavy go, that would leave Dahlstrom in the governor’s chair. Just what Alaska needs, right? Another chapter in our state’s unpredictable saga.
So, what’s going on with Nancy? She’s got enough tenacity to last several lifetimes, but maybe it’s time to see the bigger picture. If stubbornness were currency, Alaska would be in a budget surplus. Yet when it comes to our elections and the role she might soon inherit, this isn’t cutting it.
For Alaska’s sake, maybe it’s time to call it a day, Nancy.
The views expressed here are those of the author.
20 Comments
It is amazing how many back street quarterbacks we have in our state. I do believe many of us wish we had a state election reporting more like Florida but we do not. Perhaps people should look at statues and regulations on what a Lt Governor can and cannot do during elections. One of the problems that exist, when elected officials take over after an election, is facing an entrenched group of deep state election workers. Add to that the understanding how things work in rural/bush Alaska. Having lived and worked in these rural communities for many years perhaps I have a better understanding of what happens during these times. Another disappointment is, regardless of the red wave in other parts of the country, Alaskans seem to like a group of left leaning Republicans running the show since they re elected many of them, and the RCV repeal is hanging on by a thread. I would ask how Eagle River residents managed to re elect one of those legislators. Maybe instead of calling for the LT Governors retirement those resident could analyze how they might better help in the next election to retire those individuals and propositions that helped elect them!
Well said, Judge. I believe that Eagle River’s voters are well-intentioned, but under-informed. High turnover rate in that community, lots of military and 3-5 year residents who move in from out of state, and turn around and leave. What they see: an attractive female “Republican” incumbent who says nice sounding things to them when she comes to their door. They have no idea the history (leg wrestling, Jell-O shots) the spouse (major union boss), or the choice of caucus (gives new meaning to working across the aisle). They are sadly going to live to regret that choice, if they even stay here long enough to see the consequences.
Dahlstrom still needs to remove herself from that office. I hear her track record as director of corrections was not good. She said that she was going to clean the voter rolls and did not, she ran in an election that she was overseeing; No updates for Alaskans on why precincts were allowed to have their votes counted even though they did not call in the results on election night. As for the statutes and regulations, perhaps you would like to list the areas where people should be going to read them? I am not sure how many know how to navigate those areas successfully or know even where to start.
An article from 2021. Nothing has changed Judy. Actually, things have gotten worse.
https://alaskawatchman.com/2021/11/11/experts-share-findings-with-state-officials-regarding-election-fraud-in-alaska/
Judy, here is another thought about what you stated here: “One of the problems that exist, when elected officials take over after an election, is facing an entrenched group of deep state election workers.” Who is accountable for these rogue, cheating officials? It is a state-run election, so who is in charge? We the People want to know!
I, personally, would prefer for the People to take back the election process and the voter rolls. The state has failed miserably in its effort to administer an honest, fair and timely election. I am tired of hearing that we should be nice to people who break their promises, do things they should not be doing and that allow the cheating to go on.
dalhstrom is a fraud! I know that from personal interaction I’ve had with her while she was doc commissioner. a sit down in her office with her very protective and aggressive deputy commissioner Kelly Goode revealed that neither of them were capable of the positions they were given by dunleavy! regrettably the interaction was not videod so that all the public could be made aware of just how unprepared and incompetent these two were! what we do have is the fruit of their ineptitude! More prisoners deaths under their “leadership ” than any other time in Alaskans history! Now we have dalhstroms fruit of the loom, as lt governor, and it smells like a change is needed badly!
She’s not going to throw in the towel when the trophy is in reach. She failed on her only election promise: to clean up the voter rolls. Dunleavy sat 6 seats down from Trump at the Republican National Convention. That’s a tell. If Dunleavy is selected for a position in the new Trump coalition – it’s curtains for the PFD, budget cuts, policy priorities. Dahlstrom is the Liz Cheney of Alaska.
Indeed Nancy same stuff different day! Thank God she stepped aside to let Nick B in or hate to think where she would of let the state wonder!
Fire, don’t retire Nancy.
She’s been a HUGE failure.
Do, what is she doing with the missing votes? Impeach Nancy!
Interesting Dunleavy rumour. Old adage about keeping your enemies closer could be in play with crafty Trump. Plenty other governors that would make Dunleavy shoes look small. I was wondering if it’s possible Dahlstrom can’t count and therefore doesn’t trust anybody else to count either? We Alaskans should ship her to Florida to get schooled up on how the real world operates. Usually if you are looking for the answer many times it is the one most obvious, in this case, being the cheat really looks to be in play. These “leaders” need to step to the plate and defend their position with something truly plausible if cheat isn’t in to the Alaskan voter.
I moved here from Florida seven years ago and was shocked to see how this state operates when it comes to voting. It’s a complete joke. We have Lisa Turncoat Murkowski, Sellout Sullivan and Done nothing Leavy. Done nothing needs to get out from under his desk, grow a pair and at least act like you care about your state. He did nothing last election delays. He did nothing when the FBI (Federal Bureau of intimidations) kicked in a door of two senior citizens in Homer. He did nothing about the anchorage school bus fiasco even though anchorage had 54 million in covid relief funds in their coffers. By the way, where is that money? And now, where is Mr. Done nothing leavy?
Dahlstrom needs to be fired. Then Dunleavy needs to be fired. Everyone needs to let President Trump know that we do not want Governor Dunleavy working in his staff because Dunleavy can’t even control his employees under him.` It is time for Alaskans to take back the elections and the voter rolls. The state cannot be trusted to handle our elections. These elections are the People’s elections and WE should be running them.
well by golly were now getting to the nitty gritty necessities! I fired them along time ago. how do you suggest we do that collectively???? I’m all ears and all in!
How does this information get to upcoming President Trump. I agree and would like Alaska to have conservative representation instead of what we have been dealt this recent past!!
X (twitter) is a good place to start. I hear that posts are going on to get people’s opinions on different possible candidates.
Here would be a possible positive about Dunleavy taking a position in Trump’s team. If Trump does not like his work, Trump can fire him and Dunleavy won’t be Governor anymore either.
Dahlstrom put Ballot Measure 1 to be voted on. A judge should throw it out. It had at least three different parts to it while a ballot measure should have one item. Nancy should have caught that. There is a First Amendment violation for the employers. Hidden in the ballot measure are benefits that increase often and required of small businesses. Small businesses cannot afford what the unions put in this. The ads hide most of the ballot measure and appealed to the viewers by showing a sick child not being taken care of. This was a very emotionally charged message. The wording of the Ballot Measure was that is would raise the minimum wage requirement. Voters might have been caring about that topic and would not pay attention to the rest. There were two hearings on this ballot measure. We signed up to testify and waited for the call that the person on the phone said would be coming soon. No call was returned. It makes us wonder what these state officials are doing and then the question of how much is their salary anyway. Pray for our state government. BTW Trump was reached concerning Nick Begich vs. Dahlstrom through the Republican party and Lara Trump whois the national leader of the Republican party.
I’m not expert on Alaska’s election law, but from where I sit Lt. Gov. Dahlstrom should be treated with respect. Is it her fault that shady forces got RCV passed into law? And, I assume, the statutory requirement that mail ballots have 10 days to arrive? And the state’s Election Site works VERY WELL – I was easily able to determine how many registered voters were in each of the non-reporting precincts, all in very remote areas, and since they weren’t enough to have a significant, or any, impact on the Congressional race OR the RCV repeal, why are folks upset at her?
Plus, the bad BM#1, which will especially hurt Alaska’s small businesses (mine included), how is that her fault?
Lastly, did she not do a GREAT and unselfish thing by withdrawing from the Congressional race, to help Nick?
Give her a break.
Go ahead and treat her with “respect” if you are so inclined to. From my view point, it is hard to respect someone who:
First, did not clean the voter rolls as she promised;
Second, ran as a candidate in an election that she is supposed to be overseeing and making sure that it is fair and honest.
For me, those are the straws that broke my trust in her honesty and ability to do her job competently. From there, things just go down hill.
She does not qualify to run the state as governor because she could not even keep her own departments under control and running smoothly.
Coming from a government employee like you Rod Smith, I get it! it’s never to be assumed, no matter how much evidence there is, that government is guilty! The one great efficiency plan the government has devised is the elimination of all accountability!