Early voting for Alaska's Aug. 18 primary is underway in Fairbanks

Alaska voters can cast primary ballots now. Early and absentee in-person voting opened Aug. 3, and Fairbanks is among the communities with early voting locations, according to the Alaska Division of Elections.

More than 200 people attended a recent Interior Native Vote candidate mixer in Fairbanks, Alison Muñoz, breastfeeding peer counselor program coordinator at Tanana Chiefs Conference, said on the organization's Aug. 10 weekly broadcast.

"Over 200 people attended last week's candidate mixer where they were able to meet the candidates, learn more about what will be on the August ballot, check their voter registration, and register to vote," Muñoz said. Tanana Chiefs Conference has listed a Candidate Mixer for Aug. 5 at the Chief David Salmon Tribal Hall in Fairbanks, and the timing of Muñoz's remarks points to that event.

Interior Native Vote is a nonpartisan partnership of Tanana Chiefs Conference, the Fairbanks Native Association and Doyon, Limited. It aims to increase voter turnout among Alaska Natives, Doyon shareholders and Tribal members. An earlier mixer on July 20 drew candidates for state and local races, with prize drawings for attendees who spoke with multiple candidates.

Alaska's 2026 primary uses a top-four system. Candidates from all parties appear on one common ballot, and the four who receive the most votes advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

The outreach fits a broader Alaska pattern of leaning on early voting, absentee in-person voting and targeted community outreach to reach geographically dispersed and often remote voters. In the Interior, turnout depends not only on candidate preferences but on election logistics and whether voters can easily find their voting options. Alaska Native people make up about 20% of the state's population, and voting-access research has documented barriers for Native voters, including distance to polling locations, non-traditional mailing addresses and limited broadband.

Polling locations are listed at elections.alaska.gov under Polling Place Locations.

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 18.