In what is becoming a growing trend, the City of Soldotna has moved its local elections to November, instead of October, to align with borough and national election dates.

The switch, which was approved earlier this month by Soldotna City Council members, follows on the heels of an overwhelming vote by Kenai Peninsula residents to move all borough elections to November.

In 2022, the Mat-Su Borough also switched its elections to November. The growing trend is part of an effort to increase chronically dismal turnout in borough assembly, school board and city council elections. By placing these contests on the same day as statewide or national elections, the hope is to boost interest in local campaigns.

The City of Kenai is considering a similar switch.

Moving local elections to November has been favored by many conservatives across Alaska, who believe larger voter turnout will translate into more conservative candidates getting elected. This belief stems from the fact that Alaska almost always elects Republicans to the U.S. House and Senate, and voters overwhelmingly preferred President Trump over Biden in 2024 when election turnout was 56%.

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