Primary election underway for District 36

Absentee voting began Monday for the 2014 Alaska primary election.

This year’s District 36 candidates are Republicans Chere Klein, Patti Mackey and Agnes Moran. The incumbent, Rep. Peggy Wilson, announced her decision not to run again back in April.

The winner of the primary will run against non-affiliated candidate Dan Ortiz for the seat in November’s general election.

Voters can also weigh in on the first of four ballot measures to be decided in the state this year, with the remaining three up for vote in November.

Ballot measure number one is a referendum on Senate Bill 21 (SB 21), which was passed by the state legislature last year. The law was meant to replace Alaska’s Clear and Equitable Share (ACES), the production tax system established in 2007. Among other changes, SB 21 eliminated the progessivity mechanism under the previous regime and raised the base rate from 25 to 35 percent. SB 21 also offers more incentives through tax credits for companies relocating to Alaska and for companies doing new exploration drilling in the state.

A “yes” vote would reject SB 21, reverting to the previous ACES system. A “no” vote would keep SB 21 in place as is.

Alaska has a mixed-primary system where the Republican Party requires registered membership to vote in its primary, but the Democratic, Libertarian, and other parties do not. Voters casting for their district’s party candidates will need to be registered with the state’s Republican Party. Measures-only ballots are also available for non-Republicans.

Registered voters can pick up absentee ballots at Wrangell City Hall. Registration forms are also available at City Hall.

By-mail applications for absentee voting need to be in by Saturday, Aug. 16, electronic applications are due by Aug. 18. Election day is Aug. 19.

Information about the upcoming Borough Regular Election on Oct. 7 is also available at City Hall.