State blames mail delivery issues for dozens of ballots from rural Alaska not counting in primary

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Seventy-five absentee in-person ballots cast by voters in rural western Alaska communities arrived too late to be counted in last month’s primary election, officials said. The Alaska Division of Elections blamed a “mail delivery delay” that affected voters in seven communities, with Kotzebue, Igiugig and Naknek combining for 62 of the ballots. But a spokesperson did not provide more details on the nature of the delay. Absentee in-person ballots are sent to regional offices — in this case, Nome — for review. The division’s announcement this week came after officials in the vote-by-mail states of Washington and Oregon said the number of ballots rejected for late postmarks was up sharply this year.

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