Vote Centers and Secure Ballot Drop Boxes for the City and Borough of Juneau’s October 5 Municipal Election closed last night on Election Day, 8 p.m. October 5. The first batch of unofficial results, or a preliminary tally of processed ballots, are expected to be posted to the CBJ Elections webpage at juneau.org/elections after 7 p.m. on Friday, October 8.

Like last year, this year’s CBJ election is being conducted in partnership with the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA). The partnership allows CBJ to use Anchorage’s Election Center and staffing resources. The Juneau Assembly last month appropriated $700,000 to fund a ballot processing center in Juneau that is expected to be operational for CBJ’s 2022 Election.

How ballots are processed

Ballots returned to the CBJ Vote Centers, Secure Ballot Drop Boxes, and through the U.S. Postal Service have been collected daily and batched. Every ballot goes through a preliminary review process in Juneau and then transported to Anchorage for final processing. CBJ Election staff is flying up to Anchorage on Thursday, October 7, to begin the preliminary counting process.

In Anchorage, CBJ Election Officials will work with the MOA Election Team to review ballots. Any voter whose ballot return envelope has been found deficient for any reason (such as lack of voter signature or personal identifier) will be sent a “Cure Letter” from the MOA/CBJ Election team. Voters who receive cure letters must follow the instructions on the cure letter prior to October 19, when the Canvass Review Board certifies the election.

Ballots received before October 19, but postmarked on or before October 5, will be sorted, reviewed, verified or sent cure letters, and ultimately processed and tabulated, and the results will be added to final results for certification.

Preliminary unofficial results available Oct. 8 with periodic updates until certification

A preliminary tally of all ballot return envelopes received through mail, at Juneau Vote Centers, and in the Secure Ballot Drop Boxes will be available on Friday, October 8, as “unofficial results.” Review work will then continue on mailed ballots, and additional “unofficial results” will be posted online on juneau.org/elections as they become available.

The Canvass Review Board will meet on Tuesday, October 19 to review the election returns, and certify the official results and the election. CBJ Code 29.07 provides for the work of the Canvass Review Board to continue on a day-to-day basis for up to three days. Due to two write-in candidates for the School Board race, it is possible the certification of election results may take longer if the Canvass Review Board has to continue its work beyond October 19.

All results will be posted on juneau.org/elections.

Juneau voters have until 8 p.m. today, October 5, to vote in the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Election. On the ballot are candidates running for Mayor, two Assembly seats, three School Board seats, and one ballot proposition. Ballots were mailed to all qualified registered voters. There are three easy ways to cast your ballot:

1. Place your ballot in a Secure Ballot Drop Box outside the Douglas Library or the Statter Harbor boat launch parking lot; or
2. Take your ballot to a Juneau Vote Center at City Hall or the Mendenhall Valley Public Library; or
3. Mail your ballot through the U.S. Postal Service no later than TODAY, October 5; no stamp required but make sure it is postmarked.

Secure Ballot Drop Boxes

Secure Ballot Drop boxes are open until 8 p.m. TODAY at these two locations:

• Statter Harbor Boat Launch Parking Lot (NOT the Harbor Office parking lot), 11801 Glacier Hwy, Auke Bay
• Douglas Library/Fire Hall Community Building, 1016 3rd Street, Douglas

Juneau Vote Centers

Drop off voted ballots, request a new or replacement ballot, or request voter assistance until 8 p.m. TODAY at Juneau Vote Centers inside City Hall (155 S. Seward St.) or the Mendenhall Valley Public Library (3025 Dimond Park Loop)

For more information, go to juneau.org/elections.