Nome’s voters can choose their city’s mayor and who will hold five other seats at today’s Municipal Election. The polling place is open for in-person voting from 8am to 8pm at Old St. Joe’s.
City Clerk Bryant Hammond says mail-in ballots will be counted at 8pm tonight. Meanwhile, no absentee voting will take place at City Hall today.
In terms of COVID-19 precautions, voters are asked to wear a mask or face covering when entering OSJ’s. Hand sanitizer is available, and staff will be wiping down pens throughout the polling place. They ask that voters place their pens in a receptacle after using them.
Nome’s voters will need an ID, voter card, or personal knowledge of one of the election board members in order to have their vote counted today. Recent Municipal Elections in Nome have resulted in 25% voter turnout or lower, so city staff are asking residents to get out and vote to beat that standard this year.
According to the public notice from the City of Nome, up for election this year are five seats and the role of mayor. The only race featuring challengers is the mayoral one, where residents Colleen Deighton, Ken Hughes, and Interim Mayor John Handeland are all running for the figurehead position.
Adam Martinson and Doug Johnson are both running for their respective seats on the Nome City Council. Those are three-year terms.
Derek McLarty and Carl Emmons are both on the ballot to keep their Utility Board seats. McLarty’s has a two-year term while Emmons’ seat is a three-year term.
And finally, there is one seat open on the Nome School Board, however the incumbent – Brandy Arrington, is not seeking re-election in that race. Jill Peters is currently the lone candidate listed on the ballot for that seat.
None of those positions have challengers listed on the final ballot. However, a write-in campaign is still possible from any eligible candidate.
KNOM’s Sophia DeSalvo contributed to this report.
Image at top: Nome’s 2020 Municipal Election takes place at Old St. Joe’s on Tuesday, October 6th. Photo from KNOM file.
