The Easiest Path: Online Registration
For most Alaskans, the quickest way to register is online through the state's official portal. To use this system, you must have a current, valid Alaska driver's license or a state-issued ID card. The information you enter on the registration form, including your name and date of birth, must exactly match the information on file with the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If the system can validate your details against the DMV records, your registration can be processed smoothly. This is the most streamlined method, designed for those who already have state-issued identification.
Paper Registration: More ID Options
If you don't have an Alaska driver's license or state ID, or if the online system can't validate your information, you'll need to use a paper application. When you submit
a paper form by mail, fax, or as an email attachment, you must provide a copy of an identifying document. The options are broader here and include a copy of your U.S. passport or your birth certificate. A current driver's license or state ID is also acceptable. The key difference is that while online registration relies on a number the state can verify, paper registration requires you to submit a physical copy of your proof of identity.
What If You Don't Have Those Documents?
Alaska's voter registration application has a mandatory section for identifiers, but it provides flexibility. You are required to provide at least one of the following numbers: your full Social Security Number (or the last four digits), your Alaska driver’s license number, or your Alaska state ID number. The paper application includes a checkbox for individuals who have not been issued any of these numbers. If you check this box, you can still complete the application, but your identity will need to be verified when you vote for the first time. This ensures that a lack of specific ID numbers doesn't automatically prevent you from registering.
First, Make Sure You're Eligible
Before you gather your documents, it's important to confirm you meet Alaska's basic voter eligibility requirements. To register, you must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of Alaska. You also need to be at least 18 years old, or turning 18 within 90 days of submitting your application. Your registration must be submitted at least 30 days before the election in which you plan to vote. Additionally, you cannot be registered to vote in another state, and if you have a felony conviction involving moral turpitude, your voting rights must have been restored.
ID for Registration vs. ID for Voting
It's crucial to understand the difference between the ID required to register and the ID you'll need at the polls. While registration focuses on verifying your identity to create a voter record, the requirements for casting a ballot are broader. When you vote in person in Alaska, you will be asked to show an ID, but it doesn't have to be a photo ID. Accepted forms include your voter ID card, a driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID, or even a current utility bill, bank statement, or paycheck that shows your name and address. In some cases, if an election official personally knows you, they can waive the ID requirement.
