ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Hours after a judge blocked the Alaska Division of Elections’ effort to give voters lists of write-in candidates, the state Supreme Court stayed his ruling, providing a boost for the write-in campaign of incumbent U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
The lists can be shown to voters who request them, the high court ruled, but the candidates’ party affiliation must be removed. The court ordered briefs by today on whether its stay should be permanent.
Earlier in the day, Superior Court Judge Frank Pfiffner rejected the state’s argument that providing a list of certified write-in candidates to voters who ask for help complies with the state’s obligation to assist citizens who need help voting. He said it violated a state elections regulation prohibiting dissemination of information about candidates within 200 feet of polling places.
Los Angeles Times
