Voting in statewide primary off to slow start [Video]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Voting in the statewide primary got off to a slow start Tuesday with election workers in Anchorage describing the morning and afternoon turnout as “very slow.”

The State Division of Elections, which does not track voter turnout throughout election day, reported a total of 20,129 people statewide that had already voted by Sunday. Those came through early voting, absentee voting, questioned ballots, and other means. That figure was down from recent primaries.

Region II Election Supervisor Jeff Congdon speculated that people might be staying home since the majority of candidates on the primary ballot will appear on the general election ballot with the state’s ranked-choice voting system in November.

One exception is the race for Alaska’s lone congressional seat, which will whittle down candidates from 12 to four after Tuesday’s primary. Some voters have voiced concerns that two Republican frontrunners Nick Begich and Nancy Dahlstrom might …