Alaska Midterm Elections 2026: The role of voting tablets in casting ballots and how votes are counted after polls close

Americans are bracing themselves for midterm elections, which are scheduled for November 3, 2026. In Alaska, early voting began across most parts of the state on October 19, 2026 (Monday), allowing voters to cast ballots to choose their preferred candidates.

Polling in the state opened for the 15-day period leading up to Election Day on November 3, 2026. This year, voters in Alaska are casting ballots for the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, the governor, and the state legislature, plus two ballot measures. Alaska has a system of paper-based ballot voting. All voters vote on a paper ballot.

According to the Divisions of Elections of Alaska, early vote, absentee in-person, by-mail, electronic transmission, and questioned ballots are centrally counted according to house district. There are three types of election equipment used at each precinct in the state: Precinct Scanner Hand Count and a Voting Tablet

How does a voting tablet work

In Alaska, each precinct will have a voting tablet that produces a paper ballot. The voting tablet is intended for use by voters with a disability to allow them to vote unassisted. According to the Division of Elections website, voters with disabilities include those who are blind, have limited vision, have mobility issues, or find it difficult to read, etc. This method also assists those voters who fall in Section 203 precincts requiring language assistance.

Each voting tablet has either a laser printer that prints a ballot that the voter inserts into the precinct scanner or a Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) ballot printer. After the polls close for the primary election, the results are transmitted to the Director’s Office or called into the regional elections office, who then submits the results to the Director’s Office.


Also Read: Minnesota midterm election voting guide 2026: A simple guide for first-time voters


For the General Election, the first-choice vote results are either transmitted to the Director’s Office or are called into the regional elections office, and the tallies are then submitted to the Director’s Office. If subsequent counts are necessary due to rank choice voting, these results are tabulated at the director's office.