Voting Matters

By Adisen Thomas

Individuals can make positive, lasting impacts on their community through one simple action: voting. In 2024, 63.7% of eligible Alaskan voters cast a ballot in the general federal election. Voting strengthens democracy and gives voters the opportunity to voice their opinions on decisions that affect their lives.

Communities function best when everyone shares ideas and participates in civic involvement. Involving a diverse range of people helps ensure decisions reflect the community's needs.

In Alaska, municipal elections are held each year on the first Tuesday in October. These positions, including Borough mayor, Assembly, School Board and Interior Alaska Natural Gas Utility Board seats, represent the citizens of the Fairbanks North Star Borough. By state law, local elections are nonpartisan, meaning candidates run without a political party affiliation listed on the ballot. Local officials are responsible for budgeting tax dollars by deciding how and where money is spent. These budgets influence everyday public works, education, street maintenance and local regulations.

On Oct. 6, 2026, the Fairbanks North Star Borough municipal election will be held. Local elections can have lower voter turnout, meaning fewer people participate in choosing local officials.

The deadline for voters to register to vote or update their registration for the Oct. 6 municipal election was Sept. 6, 2026. Today, Oct. 4, is the deadline to register to vote or update voter registration for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Alaska general elections use ranked-choice voting. Voters may rank candidates in order of preference. Voters do not have to rank every candidate. If a voter's first-choice candidate is eliminated, their vote can then count toward their next-highest-ranked candidate.

Alaskans will vote for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives seats, the governor, state legislative seats and ballot measures appearing on the general-election ballot.

U.S. Senate and House seats determine the partisan composition of Congress and can influence what legislation the president is able to advance during the remainder of the presidential term. Public participation helps lawmakers better understand and represent communities at a national level.

Ballot measures, or ballot propositions, are topics or issues that are included in elections. According to the Alaska Division of Elections, two statewide initiatives will appear on the 2026 general-election ballot. One concerns voter qualifications, while the other would repeal Alaska's open-primary and ranked-choice general-election system. The campaign-contribution-limits initiative was approved by voters and is not a 2026 ballot measure.

Voter registration or updating voter registration can be done through the Alaska Division of Elections. Alaska uses paper ballots, and the Fairbanks North Star Borough provides information about how ballots are cast and counted in local elections.

Eligible voters can apply to vote absentee and use early or in-person voting options. For the Oct. 6 FNSB municipal election, the deadline to apply for a ballot by mail was Sept. 29. The deadline for an electronic absentee ballot application is noon on Oct. 5. Absentee in-person voting is available through Oct. 5, and Election Day is Oct. 6, when polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voting is a simple way to participate in decisions that shape the future of the community, whether the impact feels large or small. Each vote gives eligible voters an opportunity to have their voice heard.