How to vote in Alaska
On this page
- Voter registration deadline (online): 30 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): 10 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 10 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 10 days before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election Day
Alaska voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Alaska registration using the Alaska voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in Alaska you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be 18 years old within 90 days of completing your registration
- be a resident of Alaska for at least 30 days just before the election.
You can register online if you have an Alaska driver’s license or non-driver ID card.
- Visit the Alaska online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 30 days before Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your Alaska driver’s license or Alaska State Identification card number. If you don't have one, enter the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you don't have any of these numbers, write “NONE” in the box.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You do not have to declare a party afliation when registering to vote. If you do not choose a party, you will be registered as Undeclared. Alaska has a closed primary election system. Each recognized political party has a separate ballot listing only candidates from that political party. Voters registered as a member of a political party may only vote that party’s ballot. Voters registered as undeclared or non-partisan may choose one ballot from the ballots available.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked by 30 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
Bring your Alaska driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or federal government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Summary: Alaska has same day registration. You can register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
- Where to go:
Same-day voter registration is available for the offices of President and Vice President only. Go to your designated voting location. Click here to find out where to vote.
- What to bring:
Bring your Alaska driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or federal government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Voting rights are restored upon completion of prison, parole, and probation.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You cannot vote while on parole.
- You cannot vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- Financial obligations:
- parole fees
- probation fees
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Alaska absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the request deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 10 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 10 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 10 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Any registered Alaska voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
- Visit the Alaska absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 10 days before Election Day.
- Download the Alaska absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 10 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 10 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
You must include the following with your application:
- Alaska driver’s license OR non-driver ID card number
- Last 4 digits of your Social Security Number
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
You must sign your ballot in the presence of an official authorized to administer an oath, such as a notary public or US postal official, unless one is not reasonably accessible. In that case, you may sign your ballot in the presence of a witness who is over 18 years old. The witness must sign the ballot attesting that you cast the ballot on the date shown. In addition, you must provide an identifier, which can be your Alaska driver's license ID number, Alaska voter ID number, date of birth, or last 4 digits of your Social Security Number.
Track your ballot here: Alaska absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign the outside envelope.
- Your ballot will also be rejected if it's missing a witness signature or notary signature.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
Alaska law has no reference to emergency ballots.
Dates & Deadlines
Alaska does not offer emergency ballots.
Contact your local election office
Alaska early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 15 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
You must show ID when you vote.
Acceptable photo IDs include:
- Alaska driver's license or non-driver ID card issued by the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles
- Alaska hunting or fishing license
- US passport or passport card
- Driver’s license from any state
- Any photo ID issued by the state of Alaska, the federal government, or another state
Acceptable non-photo ID includes a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.
Alaska voter ID guide
You must show ID when you vote.
Acceptable photo IDs include:
- Alaska driver's license or non-driver ID card issued by the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles
- Alaska hunting or fishing license
- US passport or passport card
- Driver’s license from any state
- Any photo ID issued by the state of Alaska, the federal government, or another state
Acceptable non-photo ID includes a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.
You must include the following with your application:
- Alaska driver’s license OR non-driver ID card number
- Last 4 digits of your Social Security Number
You must sign your ballot in the presence of an official authorized to administer an oath, such as a notary public or US postal official, unless one is not reasonably accessible. In that case, you may sign your ballot in the presence of a witness who is over 18 years old. The witness must sign the ballot attesting that you cast the ballot on the date shown. In addition, you must provide an identifier, which can be your Alaska driver's license ID number, Alaska voter ID number, date of birth, or last 4 digits of your Social Security Number.
You can register online if you have an Alaska driver’s license or non-driver ID card.
Bring your Alaska driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or federal government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Alaska elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Division of Elections State of Alaska PO Box 110017 Juneau, AK 99811‐0017