By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
By noon today voter turnout in the municipal election was steady but lighter than usual, officials said at Sitka’s two voting precincts.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. Polling places for both precincts are at Harrigan Centennial Hall – Precinct 1 in meeting rooms 5 and 6, accessed from the main doors; and Precinct 2 in meeting rooms 1-3, reached from outside the hall through an entrance to the right of the main doors.
By noon some 141 ballots had been cast in Precinct 2, said Chair Dorothy Orbison. That’s about half of the number who voted in the same five-hour period last year.
At Precinct 1, 118 voters had cast ballots by noon. Chair Alex Snelling described the turnout as “slow and steady.”
Sitka voters are picking two Assembly members from three candidates on the ballot: Dave Miller, Rachel Moreno and Kevin Mosher. Mosher is the incumbent.
The two candidates in the School Board election, incumbent Amy Morrison and Todd Gebler, are unopposed in their run for the two open seats on the board.
All the terms are for three years.
Also on the ballot is an advisory question related to the sale of the old Sitka Community Hospital buildings and properties.
“Should the City and Borough of Sitka sell the two buildings and surrounding four lots at 209 Moller Drive, 202 Brady Street, 204 Brady Street and 302 Gavan Street, Sitka, Alaska, formerly the site of Sitka Community Hospital, as contemplated by the ordinance authorizing the sale previously passed on first reading by the Assembly? Yes or No.”
Sitka election worker Jean Arnold, left, watches as Bonnie Richards puts on an “I have voted” sticker after casting her ballot this afternoon in Harrigan Centennial Hall. Sitka’s two precincts vote at Centennial Hall with polls open until 8 p.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
The Assembly has taken the first step in approving the sale, but has set Oct. 12 as the date for the final vote on the sale ordinance so that members can consider the results of the nonbinding advisory question.
SEARHC has offered the appraised price, at $8.25 million, and submitted the only response to the city’s call for proposals to buy or lease the properties.
In-person advance absentee voting has been open since September 20, with 805 ballots cast by voters using this option, which closed on Monday.
To be counted, absentee ballots had to be postmarked on or before Oct. 5 or dropped off at the city office today. Faxed ballots must be submitted on official forms that will be available until the city offices close at 5 p.m. today. The ballot form needs to be filled out, witnessed and received no later than 8 p.m. today, the city clerk said.
Electioneering is prohibited within 200 feet of each entrance while the polls are open, she noted.
Ballots cast today at the polling places will be counted tonight, starting after the polls close at 8 p.m. Results are to be posted on video screens throughout Centennial Hall and on the city webpage and Facebook page. The absentee ballots will be counted starting at noon on Friday at Centennial Hall.
City Clerk Sara Peterson said people are welcome to be present in the area designated for the public to view the election results as they become available. She added that results aren’t generally available until after 8:30 p.m. tonight.
Those with questions may call the clerk’s office at 747-1811, or 747-1826.
