By THE ALASKA STORY
July 18, 2026 – While much of Alaska’s political attention is fixed on races for governor, Senate, Congress and the Legislature, the local election season has quietly begun. In Juneau, candidates now have just over a week to file for five seats on the Assembly and Board of Education.
The filing period for the City and Borough of Juneau’s Oct. 6 regular municipal election opened Friday, July 17, and closes Monday, July 27, at 4:30 pm.
Juneau voters will elect one areawide Assembly member, one District 1 Assembly member, one District 2 Assembly member and two Board of Education members. Each seat carries a three-year term. There is no mayoral election this year.
Alaska Public Offices Commission records list three Assembly candidates: Paul Roy Kelly, Mila Cosgrove, and Joyce Niven. Kelly is seeking the areawide seat, Cosgrove has filed for District 1 and Niven for District 2.
APOC records also list two school board candidates: Britteny Cioni-Haywood, who filed July 14, and David Noon, who filed July 17.
Although Assembly candidates for the two district seats must reside within the district they seek to represent, every Assembly and school board race is decided at large. That means qualified Juneau voters may vote in all five races, regardless of where they live within the borough.
Candidates must submit a declaration of candidacy, an Alaska Public Offices Commission public official financial disclosure, an acceptance of nomination and a nominating petition signed by at least 25 qualified Juneau voters. Printed copies of all required documents must be delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at 155 Heritage Way before the deadline.
There are also two ballot initiatives being tested this fall: Raising the city’s property tax cap and adding a new seasonal sales tax.
The election will be conducted primarily by mail between Sept. 18 and Oct. 6. Ballots will automatically be mailed Sept. 18 to registered Juneau voters at the mailing address on file with the Alaska Division of Elections.
Voters may return ballots by mail or at secure drop boxes around Juneau. In-person voting will also be available beginning Sept. 21 at City Hall and the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. State polling places will not be open for the municipal election.
The deadline to register to vote or update a mailing address is Sept. 6. Voters who will be away from Juneau during the election may apply to have a paper ballot sent to another address or request an electronic ballot.
Candidate filings and election information are available on the City and Borough of Juneau elections website. The City Clerk’s Office can also be reached at 907-586-5278 or City.Clerk@juneau.gov.
