Today is Election Day in Petersburg. And over 600 residents have already cast their vote in this year’s municipal election.
“It’s great to have involved citizens that are excited to get out to vote because they care,” said Petersburg Borough Clerk Becky Regula. “They’re paying attention. It’s a good thing.”
She said the number of early voters this year was a dramatic increase from past elections. In 2023, 401 ballots were cast early in-person, by mail and email. That figure was 414 last year.
Regula said it’s exciting that so many people have been getting out and voting already — and considering the high volume of ballots, she believes people are paying more attention to this year’s municipal election.
“People are more interested this year… we’ve had Mayor [Mark] Jensen [serving in local office] for 18 years, and this is the first year, in the many years he’s not going to be on the ballot.”
Regula said folks vote early for a number of reasons. It’s moose hunting season in central Southeast Alaska, so people opted to vote before leaving, or cast their ballot electronically from camp; it’s similar for residents who are out of town — from the Bahamas to Fiji.
“[From] everywhere in the world, you can vote [in] the Petersburg election,” said Regula.
She said the borough’s sign by the municipal building on Main Street could’ve helped play a role in reminding people to cast their ballot; but there was a key incentive to vote ahead of Election Day: a bowl of treats in the early voting room.
“We have our candy dish,” Regula said with a chuckle. “So that’s a huge draw, right there.”
The window for early voting closed at noon Oct. 6 in Petersburg. If you are not one of the 639 residents who have already cast a ballot, the polls at the Community Center’s Activity Room are open today, Oct. 7, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. sharp.
More information about Petersburg’s municipal election can be found in our Voter Guide.
