How Do I Vote?
Vote Early
The City offers several different methods to vote. You may vote one of the following ways:
Will you be away from the City on Election Day? Vote early.
Early Voting begins two weeks preceding Election Day and continues through 5:00 p.m. the day before Election Day. The early voting location is at:
Palmer City Hall (Council Chambers)
231 W. Evergreen Ave, Palmer, Alaska
Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Absentee By-Mail Voting
To vote from the convenience of your home, you may apply for a ballot to be mailed to you by filing an Absentee Ballot Application after the first of the year in which the election is to be held.
The request for an absentee ballot must be received by the Clerk’s Office not later than 11 days preceding Election Day (two Friday's prior).
Please complete your Absentee Ballot Application request carefully and return it to the Palmer City Clerk’s Office promptly to allow time for processing. An incomplete request or a mail delay could prevent you from receiving your ballot on time. If after you have submitted your request, your address changes, contact the Palmer City Clerk immediately. Ballots will NOT be forwarded if they are returned as undeliverable.
Special Needs Voting
Special needs voting by the personal representative is available to any voter who cannot vote in person due to age, illness, or disability. Please contact the Clerk's Office at 761-1301 for further information.
Poll Voting on Election Day
As a City resident, you may vote at your designated polling place on Election Day. The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Here are some things you can expect during the election process:
- Have your identification ready to show to the election official. Did you forget your id? You can still vote today, see the questioned ballot voter official for further instructions.
- You will be asked to sign the City of Palmer precinct register. If your name is not on the precinct registers or your qualifications to vote have been questioned, you can vote a questioned ballot. See the questioned ballot voter official for further instructions.
- If your name is on the precinct registers, you will be given a City ballot. Go to the voting booth to vote your ballot. Follow the instructions on the ballot to complete the ballot.
- If you make a mistake – do not try to fix it. Ask for a new ballot. Please remember that you may only have three City ballots.
- After you have marked your ballot, go to the black ballot box and insert the ballot in the optical scan unit.
Questioned Voting Process
If your name does not appear on the precinct register, you do not have identification, or your qualifications to vote have been questioned, you may vote a questioned ballot. When voting a questioned ballot, please be aware of the following:
- You will be asked to complete and sign the City questioned voter register and ballot envelope. Remember to sign the ballot envelope because if you don’t, your vote will not count.
- You will be given a ballot and a secrecy sleeve.
- Go to the voting booth to vote your ballot. Follow the instructions on the ballot to complete the ballot.
- If you make a mistake – do not try to fix it. Ask for a new ballot. Please remember that you may only have three City ballots.
- Once you have voted, fold your ballot along the score and put it in the secrecy sleeve. Return the sleeve to the questioned election official.
- Your questioned ballot is then placed in a sealed ballot envelope and then in the ballot box. The ballot is received unopened by the City Clerk’s Office and the Canvass Board. The Canvass Board will verify the information on the ballot envelope against the official voter registration record and determine whether to fully count, partially count, or reject your questioned ballot. Within 30 days following certification of the election, a written notice informing you if your ballot was rejected or partially rejected will be mailed to you. Please note, if you do not receive notification – your ballot was counted.
