With Alaska’s primary election wrapped up and the general election fast approaching, midterm season is in full swing.
Midterm elections take place halfway through the presidential term. In Alaska’s 2026 general election, voters will decide on races for the US Senate, US House, governor and lieutenant governor, as well as seats in the Alaska Legislature and ballot measures.
Whether you’re a first-time voter or you’ve cast a ballot in multiple elections, here’s some important information to know before heading to the polls.
Registering to vote
There are multiple ways to register to vote in Alaska. Not sure if you’re already registered? Check with this tool.
Alaska requires voter registration applications and registration changes to be made at least 30 days before an election. For the Nov. 3 general election, that deadline is Oct. 4, 2026.
Register online
Alaska offers online voter registration. Voters can use the system to register for the first time or update information such as their residence or name. Voters will need a valid Alaska driver’s license or state identification card, and the information entered must match the voter’s DMV record. Without those forms of identification, voters must register by mail or in person.
Register by mail or in person
Voters can also register using Alaska’s paper voter registration application. The completed and signed form can be sent by mail, fax, or email attachment to a regional Division of Elections office in Anchorage, Wasilla, Juneau, Fairbanks or Nome, or at participating voter registration agencies. Those agencies include some DMV offices, tribal government offices, city or borough clerk’s offices, public assistance agencies, political party offices, public libraries, and other locations. Applicants registering by paper should include the required identifying information and, when applicable, a copy of acceptable identification, including a current driver’s license, state ID, passport, or birth certificate.
Ways to vote
Early in person
Alaska offers early voting and absentee in-person voting before Election Day.
For the 2026 general election, early and absentee in-person voting begins Oct. 19. Regional offices also have scheduled weekend hours during the early-voting period. Voters can use the Division of Elections’ online tool to find early and absentee voting locations.
By mail
Alaska voters can request an absentee ballot by mail, which voters can track the status of. For the Nov. 3 general election, the deadline to request an absentee-by-mail ballot is Oct. 24, 2026.
Once received, voters should follow the instructions included with the ballot. A witness who is at least 18 years old must sign the voter certificate and identification sheet. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day. Voters can also bring their absentee ballot to a voting location and must do so by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Military and overseas voters may apply for an absentee-online ballot by Oct. 19. Alaska also allows eligible voters to apply for absentee vote by fax for eligible voters by Nov. 2.
In person on Election Day
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Alaska time.
Voters should check their assigned polling place before Election Day, particularly if they have recently moved.
What to bring to the polls
Alaska voters should be prepared to show identification when voting in person.
Acceptable identification can include:
Alaska driver’s license
Alaska state identification card
Alaska voter registration card
US passport
Military identification
Birth certificate
Hunting or fishing license
Current utility bill
Government check
Bank statement
Paycheck
Another government document showing the voter’s name and current address
Student and tribal identification cards can also qualify as acceptable photo identification.
If a voter does not have identification, Alaska allows the voter to cast a questioned ballot in certain circumstances. Questioned ballots are reviewed after Election Day to determine whether the voter was eligible.
First-time voters should make sure they have the appropriate identification with them, particularly if their identity has not already been verified through the registration process.
Ranking candidates on the general election ballot
One major difference for Alaska voters is the state’s ranked-choice voting system.
Alaska uses ranked-choice voting in general elections. Voters can rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting only one candidate.
For an office with multiple candidates, voters can mark a first choice, second choice, third choice ,and so on. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, additional rounds of counting are conducted using voters’ subsequent choices until a candidate receives a majority.
Only the top four candidates from each applicable primary race advance to the general election, although write-in candidates can also appear in the general election.
For first-time voters, it’s a good idea to review a sample ballot and understand how ranked-choice voting works before arriving at the polls.
What if you make a mistake?
If you have questions at the polling place, ask a poll worker for assistance. Poll workers can explain the voting process and help direct voters to the appropriate resources.
If a voter’s name is not on the precinct register, their information needs to be updated, or they do not have the required identification, they may be instructed to vote a questioned ballot. Those ballots go through a review process after Election Day.
Important dates to keep in mind
Before the Nov. 3 general election, here are some important dates to remember:
Oct. 4: Voter registration deadline for the general election
Oct. 19: Early, absentee in-person, electronic transmission, and special-needs voting begins
Oct. 24: Deadline to request an absentee-by-mail ballot
Oct. 31: Regional offices open for early and absentee in-person voting
Nov. 1: Regional offices have scheduled early and absentee voting hours
Nov. 2 by 5 p.m. Alaska time: Deadline to submit an absentee electronic-transmission application
Nov. 3 by 8 p.m.: Polls close; ballots returned to voting locations must be received by this time
Nov. 3: General Election Day; mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by this date
For the latest information on registration, polling places, early voting, absentee ballots, sample ballots and the 2026 general election, visit the Alaska Division of Elections.
