A recent U.S. Postal Service policy change could affect how Anchorage voters return their ballots in the city’s upcoming municipal election on April 7.
Under a federal rule finalized in 2025, mail is not guaranteed to be postmarked the same day it is dropped off. Postmarks may reflect when the ballot is processed at a postal facility, which could happen days later.
The city conducts elections primarily by mail, sending ballot packages to registered voters about three weeks before Election Day. Voters can return ballots by mail, at secure drop boxes or at in-person vote centers (Anchorage City Hall, Loussac Library and the Eagle River Town Center) that open ahead of and on Election Day.
Municipal officials recommend mailing ballots early or using a drop box to ensure they are received on time. Those who are mailing their ballot are encouraged to bring it to the postal counter and request a manual postmark.
Ballots are due by 8 p.m. on Election Day, April 7, and must be returned — not just postmarked — by that deadline. That means a ballot sitting in the mail on Election Day could miss the cutoff.
Dropping ballots in one of Anchorage’s secure drop boxes or returning them at a Vote Center will remain an option through Election Day.
Voters should carefully follow the instructions on the return envelope, including signing the voter declaration. Missing signatures are one of the most common reasons ballots are rejected.
