View source for Elections in Alaska

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{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Elections in Alaska sidebar}}
The number of '''elections in Alaska''' ([[Iñupiaq language|Iñupiaq]]: ''Alaaskam naliġagviat'') varies by year, but typically municipal elections occur every year, plus primary and general elections for federal and state offices occur during even-numbered years.  [[Alaska]] has a [[governor|gubernatorial election]] every four years.  Members of the state's [[United States Congress|United States congressional]] [[United States congressional delegations from Alaska|delegation]] run for election or re-election at the times set out in the [[United States Constitution]].  [[Partisan primary|Primary election]]s assist in choosing political parties' nominees for various positions.  On a regional basis (see [[list of boroughs and census areas in Alaska]]), elections also cover municipal issues.  In addition, a [[by-election|special election]] can occur at any time.

In a 2020 study, Alaska was ranked as the 15th hardest state for citizens to vote in.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=J. Pomante II |first1=Michael |last2=Li |first2=Quan |title=Cost of Voting in the American States: 2020 |journal=Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, and Policy |date=15 Dec 2020 |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=503–509 |doi=10.1089/elj.2020.0666 |s2cid=225139517 |url=https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/elj.2020.0666 |access-date=14 January 2022|doi-access=free }}</ref>

In 2020, Alaskan voters approved an initiative to implement a [[Top-four primary#Alaska|nonpartisan blanket top-four primary]] with a single, open primary where candidates from all parties are listed on the ballot and the top four vote-getters advance to the general election.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Piper|first=Kelsey|date=2020-11-19|title=Alaska voters adopt ranked-choice voting in ballot initiative|url=https://www.vox.com/2020/11/19/21537126/alaska-measure-2-ranked-choice-voting-results|access-date=2022-02-23|website=Vox|language=en}}</ref> This system went into effect with the 2022 elections. Prior to this, [[Voter registration#United States|registered voters]] in Alaska were given a choice between three primary ballots reflecting a [[semi-closed primary]] system.<ref name="harrington2014">{{cite news | title=Voter Registration: It's Not Automatic, but It's Easy | author=Harrington, Susan | date=July 1, 2014 | work=Alaska Business Monthly | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-374921727.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329042605/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-374921727.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 29, 2015 | quote=Alaska law allows a political party to select who may participate in their party's primary. }}</ref>  Specifically, Democratic, Libertarian, Alaskan Independence and Independent candidates were listed on one ballot available to all registered voters and Republican candidates were listed on a second ballot available to voters registered as Republican, Nonpartisan or Undeclared.<ref name="harrington2014" /> In 2024, Alaskans voted on [[2024 Alaska Ballot Measure 2|a measure]] to repeal the system and return to partisan primaries; the measure narrowly failed to pass.<ref name="x407">{{cite web | last=Brooks | first=James | title=Alaska Supreme Court upholds ranked choice repeal initiative, now bound for November vote • Alaska Beacon | website=Alaska Beacon | date=2024-08-23 | url=https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/08/22/alaska-supreme-court-upholds-ranked-choice-repeal-initiative-now-bound-for-november-vote/ | access-date=2024-08-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kirch |first1=Steve |title=Ranked-choice voting repeal results leaves mixed reaction among Alaskans |url=https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/11/23/opponents-supporters-ballot-measure-2-react-final-tally/ |website=Alaska's News Source |language=en |date=November 23, 2024}}</ref>

== Ballot measures ==
{{Main|List of Alaska ballot measures}}

==Presidential elections==
{{main|United States presidential elections in Alaska}}

{{PresHead|place=Alaska|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/compare.php?year=2008&fips=2&f=1&off=0&elect=0&type=state|title=Presidential General Election Results Comparison – Alaska|publisher=US Election Atlas|access-date=January 3, 2023|author=Leip, David}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|184,458|140,026|13,693|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|189,951|153,778|15,801|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|163,387|116,454|38,767|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|164,676|122,640|13,179|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|193,841|123,594|8,762|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|190,889|111,025|10,684|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|167,398|79,004|39,158|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|122,746|80,380|38,494|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|102,000|78,294|78,212|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|119,251|72,584|8,281|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|138,377|62,007|7,221|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|86,112|41,842|30,491|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|71,555|44,058|7,961|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|55,349|32,967|6,903|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|37,600|35,411|10,024|Alaska}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|22,930|44,329|0|Alaska}}
{{PresFoot|1960|Republican|30,953|29,809|0|Alaska}}

Alaskans have voted in [[United States presidential election]]s since 1960. With the exception of the candidacy of [[Barry Goldwater]] in 1964, the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] has carried Alaska in every presidential election.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2|Vote in Alaska !! colspan=2|National vote
|-
! Year !! Candidate !! Year !! Candidate
|-
| [[1960 United States presidential election in Alaska|1960]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Richard Nixon]] || [[1960 United States presidential election|1960]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[John F. Kennedy]]
|-
| [[1964 United States presidential election in Alaska|1964]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[Lyndon B. Johnson]] || [[1964 United States presidential election|1964]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[Lyndon B. Johnson]]
|-
| [[1968 United States presidential election in Alaska|1968]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Richard Nixon]] || [[1968 United States presidential election|1968]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Richard Nixon]]
|-
| [[1972 United States presidential election in Alaska|1972]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Richard Nixon]] || [[1972 United States presidential election|1972]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Richard Nixon]]
|-
| [[1976 United States presidential election in Alaska|1976]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Gerald Ford]] || [[1976 United States presidential election|1976]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[Jimmy Carter]]
|-
| [[1980 United States presidential election in Alaska|1980]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Ronald Reagan]] || [[1980 United States presidential election|1980]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Ronald Reagan]]
|-
| [[1984 United States presidential election in Alaska|1984]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Ronald Reagan]] || [[1984 United States presidential election|1984]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Ronald Reagan]]
|-
| [[1988 United States presidential election in Alaska|1988]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[George H. W. Bush]] || [[1988 United States presidential election|1988]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[George H. W. Bush]]
|-
| [[1992 United States presidential election in Alaska|1992]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[George H. W. Bush]] || [[1992 United States presidential election|1992]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[Bill Clinton]]
|-
| [[1996 United States presidential election in Alaska|1996]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Bob Dole]] || [[1996 United States presidential election|1996]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[Bill Clinton]]
|-
| [[2000 United States presidential election in Alaska|2000]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[George W. Bush]] || [[2000 United States presidential election|2000]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[George W. Bush]]
|-
| [[2004 United States presidential election in Alaska|2004]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[George W. Bush]] || [[2004 United States presidential election|2004]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[George W. Bush]]
|-
| [[2008 United States presidential election in Alaska|2008]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[John McCain]] || [[2008 United States presidential election|2008]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[Barack Obama]]
|-
| [[2012 United States presidential election in Alaska|2012]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Mitt Romney]] || [[2012 United States presidential election|2012]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[Barack Obama]]
|-
| [[2016 United States presidential election in Alaska|2016]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Donald Trump]] || [[2016 United States presidential election|2016]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Donald Trump]]
|-
|[[2020 United States presidential election in Alaska|2020]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Donald Trump]] || [[2020 United States presidential election|2020]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[Joe Biden]]
|-
|[[2024 United States presidential election in Alaska|2024]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Donald Trump]] || [[2024 United States presidential election|2024]] || {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Donald Trump]]
|}

==United States congressional delegation elections==
{{main|United States congressional delegations from Alaska}}

===United States Senate elections===
Alaska has a Class II Senator (currently [[Dan Sullivan (U.S. senator)|Dan Sullivan]]) and a Class III Senator (currently [[Lisa Murkowski]]).  Alaska first elected Senators in 1956 under the "Alaska–Tennessee Plan."  They had no vote in the Senate, but were sent to represent Alaska as if they were, to lobby for statehood, and to assume the office of senator should the situation arise.  Alaska's first voting senators were elected in [[1958 United States Senate elections|the 1958 election]]; it was a special election due to the former territory's pending admission as a state.

====Class II Senate elections====
*[[1960 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[1966 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[1972 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[1978 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[1984 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[1990 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[1996 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[2002 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[2008 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[2014 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[2020 United States Senate election in Alaska]]

====Class III Senate elections====
*[[1962 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[1968 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[1974 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[1980 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[1986 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[1992 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[1998 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[2004 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[2010 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[2016 United States Senate election in Alaska]]
*[[2022 United States Senate election in Alaska]]

===United States House of Representatives elections===
Alaska has had [[Alaska's at-large congressional district|a single congressional district]] in the United States House of Representatives since statehood was granted in 1959.
*[[1958 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1960 United States House of Representatives elections#Alaska|1960 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1962 United States House of Representatives elections#Alaska|1962 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1964 United States House of Representatives elections#Alaska|1964 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1966 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1968 United States House of Representatives elections#Alaska|1968 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1970 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1972 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1974 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1976 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1978 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1980 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1982 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1984 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1986 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1988 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1990 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1992 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1994 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1996 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[1998 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[2000 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[2002 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[2004 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[2006 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[2008 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[2010 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[2012 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[2014 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[2016 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[2018 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[2020 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election|2022 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska (Special)]]
*[[2022 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]
*[[2024 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska]]

== Gubernatorial elections ==
{{main|List of governors of Alaska}}
*[[1958 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[1962 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[1966 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[1970 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[1974 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[1978 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[1982 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[1986 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[1990 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[1994 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[1998 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[2002 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[2006 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[2010 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[2014 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[2018 Alaska gubernatorial election]]
*[[2022 Alaska gubernatorial election]]

==Alaska Legislature elections==
[[Alaska Senate|Alaska Senators]] have terms of four years; half of them are elected every two years.  [[Alaska House of Representatives|Alaska Representatives]] have terms of two years; all of them are elected every two years.<ref>[http://ltgov.state.ak.us/constitution.php?section=2 Article 2, Section 3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718194913/http://ltgov.state.ak.us/constitution.php?section=2 |date=2008-07-18 }} of the [[Constitution of Alaska]]</ref>  The state's redistricting process allows the power to shorten the terms of state senators should a redistricting action substantially alter their district.
*[[1994 Alaska state elections]]
*[[1996 Alaska state elections]]
*[[1998 Alaska state elections]]
*[[2000 Alaska state elections]]
*[[2002 Alaska state elections]]
*[[2004 Alaska state elections]]
*[[2006 Alaska state elections]]
*[[2008 Alaska state elections]]
*[[2010 Alaska state elections]]
*[[2012 Alaska state elections]]
*[[2014 Alaska state elections]]
*[[2016 Alaska state elections]]

==Municipal elections==
Virtually all of the state's municipalities hold their general elections in early October, with the notable exception of [[Anchorage]].  [[North Pole, Alaska|North Pole]] for many years held their elections in November, in the process holding them on the same day as state elections on even-numbered years, but eventually abandoned that in favor of October elections.  Anchorage switched from an early October election day to one in early April around 1992.

==Political parties==
There are four qualified political parties.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/pi_rp.php |title=State of Alaska - Recognized Political Parties |access-date=2013-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012034743/http://www.elections.alaska.gov/pi_rp.php |archive-date=2013-10-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] (see also [[Alaska Democratic Party]])
*[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]]
*[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] (see also [[Alaska Republican Party]])
*[[Alaskan Independence Party]]

Lawsuits launched by [[Joe Vogler]] and [[Jim Sykes]], among other lawsuits, led the [[Alaska Legislature]] to eventually revamp and relax laws pertaining to party status and ballot access. The first instance of a minor party gaining recognition came in 1982, when the gubernatorial candidacy of [[Dick Randolph]] under the [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]] was successful enough to meet the existing party recognition threshold.

==See also==
*[[Political party strength in Alaska]]
*[[Women's suffrage in Alaska]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.elections.alaska.gov/ Alaska Division of Elections] ''official website''
* {{Ballotpedia|Alaska|Alaska}}
* {{citation |author= [[Government Documents Round Table]] of the American Library Association |work=Voting & Elections Toolkits |url= https://godort.libguides.com/votingtoolkit/alaska |title= Alaska }}
* {{citation |work=[[Vote.org]] |location=Oakland, CA |url= https://www.vote.org/state/alaska/ |title= Alaska: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links }}
* {{cite web |title= League of Women Voters of Alaska |url= https://www.lwv.org/local-leagues/find-local-league }} (State affiliate of the U.S. [[League of Women Voters]])
* {{citation |title=State Elections Legislation Database |quote= State legislation related to the administration of elections introduced in 2011 through this year, 2020 |url= https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/elections-legislation-database.aspx |publisher=[[National Conference of State Legislatures]] |work=Ncsl.org |location=Washington, D.C. }}

{{U.S. Elections by State}}
{{Alaska}}

[[Category:Alaska elections| ]]
[[Category:Government of Alaska]]
[[Category:Alaska politics-related lists]]