More Than 600 Were Citizens. About 1,900 Never Answered
Alaska's elections director told lawmakers more than 600 citizens came off the active voter list and she won't restore them herself.
The deck
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The story
Both sit in one August 6th letter that promises another notice with no date on it. The primary is August 18th.
In 2024 the DMV and the Division of Elections compared just 2,000 records. More than 580,000 were compared this year. The DMV called that non-routine, per the Alaska Beacon.
That letter posts as three images with no text layer, so its figures reach the public through one newsroom's reading.
The four reported outcomes at one scale. Both published totals with outlet and date. Four things a removed voter can still do.
About 1,900 people never answered and no published account says how many of them are citizens. Against 580,000 records compared, what is more than 600 a measure of?
What we verified
24 CLAIMS, EACH RE-FETCHED FROM ITS SOURCE BEFORE THIS DECK SHIPPED
The Alaska Division of Elections posted a notice titled Division of Elections responds to lawmakers' inquiry on August 6th, 2026.
The Alaska Division of Elections lists the 2026 primary election as August 18, 2026 and the general election as November 3, 2026.
The Division of Elections says absentee in person and early voting locations are open for voting starting 15 days prior to and through Election Day.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail for the 2026 primary is August 8th, 2026.
More than 600 U.S. citizens were mistakenly flagged as possible noncitizens and removed from Alaska's list of active voters, according to the Division of Elections director's letter to lawmakers.
The Beacon reported that 3,058 people were removed from Alaska's active voter list after the Division of Elections compared its citizenship data against Division of Motor Vehicles records.
Alaska Public Media reported on July 23rd, 2026 that a Division of Elections spokesman gave the specific figure of 3,048.
Elections Director Carol Beecher wrote that approximately 685 voters have contacted the Division and stated they are citizens despite the inconsistency with the DMV's records.
Beecher wrote that more than 100 people have reported they are not citizens and requested that their voter registration be cancelled.
About 350 of the letters the Division of Elections sent to affected Alaskans were returned as undeliverable.
About 1,900 affected Alaskans have not responded at all to the Division's letter.
In 2024 the DMV and the Division of Elections compared just 2,000 records.
More than 580,000 records were compared this year, a volume the DMV called non-routine.
Beecher wrote that the Division has paused additional DMV comparisons while it evaluates this initial effort and incorporates lessons learned.
Beecher said she will not unilaterally return affected Alaskans to the voter rolls and that the division will instead send out another notice to affected voters.
Someone removed from the voter list may still cast a vote this year but will not appear on their precinct register and must provide additional identity information to cast a questioned ballot.
A joint statement from the Division of Motor Vehicles and the Division of Elections said Elections most recently asked DMV to compare lists in March 2026, producing the letters that were recently sent.
Beecher said the Division of Elections sent a letter to about 3,500 Alaskans.
A bipartisan group of 23 legislators wrote to Elections Director Carol Beecher asking that all names be put back on the active voters list unless ineligibility has been established.
KMXT reported that Beecher told legislators voters could get back on the voter list by contacting the division and affirming that they are citizens.
Public Citizen's election deepfake legislation tracker lists Alaska Senate Bill 64 with its election deepfake provision removed, and does not list Alaska among enacted states.
The Alaska Legislature passed a bipartisan elections bill, Senate Bill 64, that would have improved voter roll list maintenance, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed it before an override attempt failed.
The Division of Elections disclosed a list last year which showed 70 noncitizens either voted or attempted to vote in elections over the past decade.
Beecher dismissed an Anchorage temporary poll worker after she raised concerns about how poll workers were instructed to handle voters flagged as possible noncitizens.
Beats
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