Table of Contents
“The request to split ballots by voter affiliation is not even possible,” State Attorney General Treg Taylor said on Thursday, dismissing former President Donald Trump’s push to segregate Alaska’s Senate race ballots.
Legal Background
Trump’s legal team filed a motion on Aug. 13 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, arguing that Alaska’s top‑two primary system should be altered so that Republican‑leaning voters receive a separate ballot sheet.
Because Alaska uses a nonpartisan blanket primary, every voter can choose any candidate, and the top two advance to the general election. The demand would carve out a “Republican ballot” — a move no state has ever sanctioned.
“There is no statutory authority for a court to order ballot segregation in Alaska,” Taylor told reporters.
And the Alaska Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the current system, citing the Alaska Constitution’s guarantee of equal voting rights.
State Attorneys’ Response
Attorney General Taylor, along with the Alaska Department of Law, filed a brief on Aug. 20 asserting that the demand violates both state law and federal voting rights statutes.
Because the request would require new legislation, not a court order, the attorneys called it “a legal fantasy.” I spoke with a senior deputy attorney who explained that implementing such a split would demand a new ballot design, separate voter registration categories, and a massive overhaul of election software — costs running into millions.
But the federal Department of Justice also weighed in, noting that any segregation could trigger a violation of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on political affiliation.
So far, no judge has entertained the motion; the district court clerk marked it “dismissed” on Aug. 22.
The Bottom Line
- Trump’s demand to segregate ballots was filed Aug. 13, 2024.
- Alaska’s top‑two primary system remains unchanged.
- State attorneys called the request “not even possible.”
- Implementation would require new legislation and cost millions.
- Potential Voting Rights Act violations flagged by the DOJ.
For readers tracking the broader fight over ballot design, see Alaska Ballot Segregation Demand Declared Impossible by State Attorneys and Alaska, California Ballot Battles Heat Up as Midterms Near. The Reuters report on the filing provides additional context (source), and the Alaska government’s official election page offers the current primary rules (Alaska.gov).
Understand the Big Picture with gnewsx
From policy changes to economic shifts, we break down what matters. Get in-depth national coverage and expert analysis at gnewsx.com.
