Early voter turnout in Wasilla, Palmer city elections lags compared to last year

What you need to know:

• Early voting for city elections in Palmer, Wasilla, and Houston runs through Monday, with voter turnout thus far lower than last year in Wasilla and Palmer.
• The lower turnout may be linked to this year's ballot, which features fewer competitive races and no propositions or recalls in Wasilla and Palmer, compared to a wider variety of races in 2023.
• Election Day is Tuesday. Voters can find links to their city precinct information here .

PALMER - Early voting for city elections in Palmer, Wasilla and Houston runs through Monday, with turnout trending lower than last year in Wasilla and Palmer, city officials said.

Early voting started Sept. 16 in Wasilla, Palmer and Houston. Election Day in the three cities is Tuesday.

In Wasilla, 63 early voters had cast ballots by late Thursday, the ninth day of early voting. That compares to 89 voters in the first 10 days last year, Assistant City Clerk Sarah Stanifer said in an email. A total of 143 Wasilla residents had voted early in 2023, or about 20% of all ballots cast.

In Palmer, 25 voters had cast early ballots during the first seven days of early voting, city clerk Shelly Acteson said during a city council meeting Tuesday.

Data on how that turnout compared to the same period last year was not immediately available, but a report from Acteson to the council suggested it was likely lower. As of Sept. 19, the third day of early voting, only five voters had participated, down from 18 at the same point last year, the report said. Complete 2023 Palmer early voter data was not available.

Houston city officials did not respond to a request for early voting data.

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The lower early voter turnout in Wasilla and Palmer may reflect what's on the ballot this year.

Wasilla has two council members running unopposed for re-election, while Palmer has five candidates vying for two open council seats. There are no questions, propositions or recalls on the ballot in either city.

In 2023, Wasilla's ballot included a mayoral race, one contested and one uncontested council seat, while Palmer's ballot included questions about funding a new library and increasing property tax exemptions for veterans and seniors, in addition to two open council seats.

This year's Houston ballot includes three City Council races, two of which are uncontested.

Total voter turnout in 2023 was less than 8% in Houston and Wasilla, and less than 7% in Palmer.

Wasilla has 7,800 registered voters, Palmer has about 5,100, and Houston has about 1,900.

— Contact Amy Bushatz at abushatz@matsusentinel.com.