City Clerk - Elections/Voting

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City of Ketchikan/Ketchikan Gateway Borough - 

October 1, 2024 Regular Municipal Election

The Clerk's office is responsible for supervising and running the local municipal election, as well as assisting the State in statewide elections. The Clerk’s office endeavors to conduct the elections with the highest integrity possible.

If you would like to serve as an election official on a precinct board, contact the Clerk's office at 907-228-5658 or e-mail us at  clerk@ktn-ak.us.


Absentee Voting

Registered City voters may vote up to 15-days prior to a municipal election by: early or absentee in-person, absentee by mail or by fax. 

Early or Absentee Voting In-Person will be available at the City Clerk's office, 334 Front Street, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. starting on September 16 through September 30, 2024.

      Absentee By-Mail Application

    Absentee Electronic Application 

     Ketchikan Municipal Code Title 1- Elections      

     Charter of the City of Ketchikan Article X – Elections                

The City of Ketchikan and the Ketchikan Gateway Borough will have separate ballots for the 2024 municipal elections. Registered Ketchikan City residents may also vote the Borough ballot. To apply for a Borough absentee by mail or by electronic transmission, please visit https://www.borough.ketchikan.ak.us/172/Elections, or reach out to the Borough Clerk's Office at 907-228-6605.


Apply to be an Election Worker

The City of Ketchikan and the Ketchikan Gateway Borough are recruiting for Election Workers to work at assigned polling places for local municipal elections. Please read the attached description of positions and qualifications. Fill out the application and return to either the City Clerk or Borough Clerk's office  Poll Worker Application

Register to Vote

To be eligible to vote, you must register with the State of Alaska Division of Elections no later than 30 days before Election Day. You can register to vote at the City Clerk's Office 334 Front Street or the Borough Clerk's Office 1900 First Avenue, or register online at: https://voterregistration.alaska.gov/ 

Polling Places: 

  • Ketchikan No. 1 – Gateway Recreation Center, 601 Schoenbar Road 
  • Ketchikan No. 2 – Plaza Port West, Lower Level, 2417 Tongass Avenue
  • Ketchikan No. 3 – Alaska Marine Highway System Ferry Terminal, 3501 Tongass Avenue

Personal Representative:      

A person may assist another in the voting process by becoming a personal representative. Although it can be time consuming, many people would never be able to vote without the assistance of those willing to help. The personal representative presents identification and obtains the ballot at the Clerk's office, then takes it to the voter. The voter fills out the form, which names the helper as their personal representative, votes the ballot, inserts the ballot into the secrecy sleeve and envelope, and the personal representative returns all of it to the Clerk's office by 5 p.m. on the date of the election.

  Please remember to bring identification in order to vote!!

Regular Local Municipal Election will be held October 1, 2024

There are two, 3-year vacant seats for Council currently held by Janalee Gage and Jai Mahtani and the Mayor seat currently held by Dave Kiffer. In order to become a candidate on the ballot, a person must gather the signatures of ten registered City voters, file a declaration of candidacy and fill out a Public Official Financial Disclosure Statement. Petitions and forms are also available at the City Clerk's Office, 334 Front Street, Ketchikan, Alaska 99901. The first day to file is August 1, 2023 and filing closes at 5 p.m. on August 25, 2023.

Qualifications to run for Council:      

A person who wishes to run for a vacant seat on the City Council must be 18 years of age and 30 years of age if running for the Mayor seat, a qualified voter, and have resided within City limits for one year. A petition, which must be signed by at least 10 registered City voters, must be filled out and submitted to the Clerk's office in accordance with the filing period for the election (typically August 1 - 25). A declaration of candidacy as well as a financial disclosure statement must be filled out before a person's name will be allowed on the ballot.



History of Elected Officials from 1900-present:      

The City of Ketchikan has a varied history of those elected to the Council and Mayor seats on the City Council. Reading through the names is almost like driving through the City and visiting many of your favorite places or recognizing names of streets where your friends live. Click HERE to enjoy!