Alaska’s Election Chief Defends Division’s Management
During a recent legislative hearing, Alaska’s elections chief, Carol Beecher, defended her division’s management of the 2024 elections. She discussed logistical challenges that created problems for some voters, particularly in rural precincts that were unstaffed or understaffed.
Republican committee members questioned Beecher about election security and possible fraud, while Democrats raised concerns about voter access issues. Beecher emphasized that the division does not investigate citizenship status for voters and relies on the information provided by them.
Concerns about non-citizens casting votes have prompted discussions about verifying citizenship during the voting process. However, Beecher explained that current laws prevent the division from verifying citizenship independently.
Beecher also highlighted the challenges of administering elections in rural communities, citing incidents like voters receiving incorrect ballots. She stressed the importance of training and retaining poll workers to ensure smooth election operations.
In response to feedback from the recent election, Beecher suggested improvements for future elections, including expanding mail-only precincts, providing paid postage for ballots, and adjusting ballot counting timelines.
Despite the challenges faced during the 2024 elections, Beecher expressed a commitment to enhancing the integrity of the process and building public trust in the elections system. The next Legislative session, starting on Jan. 21, will see Rep. Andrew Gray chairing the committee.
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