JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Seventy-five absentee in-person ballots cast by voters in rural western Alaska communities arrived too late to be counted in last month's primary election, officials said.
The Alaska Division of Elections blamed a “mail delivery delay” that affected voters in seven communities, with Kotzebue, Igiugig and Naknek combining for 62 of the ballots. But a spokesperson did not provide more details on the nature of the delay. Absentee in-person ballots are sent to regional offices — in this case, Nome — for review.
The division's announcement this week came after officials in the vote-by-mail states of Washington and Oregon said the number of ballots rejected for late postmarks was up sharply this year. The U.S. Postal Service last year finalized a rule stating that postmarks don’t necessarily reflect the date the agency first took possession of a piece of mail, but rather the day it was handled in an agency processing center. On Thursday, the postmaster general, David Steiner, encouraged by-mail voters in this year's midterm elections to vote early.
In response to questions about the Alaska ballots, Nikolaj Hagen, a Postal Service spokesperson, said “any number of factors” can affect the timeliness of mail delivery. Employees take their roles seriously, he said.
“Without a review of the actual mailpieces involved, the Postal Service is unable to comment further,” he said in a statement. “We will continue to work closely with Alaska election officials to identify opportunities for communication and coordination where needed.”
The state accepts absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day and sent from within the U.S. up to 10 days after elections. But that grace period isn't always enough. In 2022, for example, ballots from some villages weren't fully counted due to mail delays.
Most Alaska communities aren't connected to the state's main road system, and air service also plays a key role in getting voting materials and ballots to and from communities.
Michelle Sparck, director of Get Out the Native Vote, said the 75 ballots that arrived too late to be counted “represent a measurable loss in participation.”
“Experiences like this can deepen voter apathy and reinforce the systemic perception that our votes do not matter,” she said by email.
She said her organization supports the Division of Elections' announcement that it will reroute absentee in-person ballots from western Alaska from the regional office in Nome to that in Anchorage, the state's largest city.
“This is a practical adjustment to the realities of transporting election materials from rural Alaska, where mail delays can prevent valid ballots from being processed on time,” Sparck said.
Sallyann Hughes, who lives in the small southwest Alaska village of Naknek, said she voted absentee in-person on Aug. 5 — 13 days before the primary. She later received a letter saying her ballot had not arrived in time.
“I was quite unpleased,” she said. “I made an extra effort to make sure that I was there and that I voted because I wanted my vote to count and it didn’t.”
Hughes will be out of state for the general election and plans to get an absentee ballot delivered to her electronically that she must download and print and get a witness signature for. She said she plans to then “take it and walk into the post office, make them stamp the postmark on it in front of me and mail it with tracking.”
FILE - A sign indicates the director's office of the Alaska Division of Elections, March 19, 2026, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich star Harry Kane scored twice on a historic night, becoming the fastest player to reach 100 goals in the Bundesliga as his team thrashed Union Berlin 7-0 on Friday.
In England, Chelsea was handed a 3-0 drubbing by London rival Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho all scored in the second half as Brentford climbed to third in the Premier League with nine points from five games. Co-leaders Arsenal and Manchester City are three points ahead and play on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
England striker Kane, 33, achieved his milestone by converting a 39th-minute penalty to extend Bayern’s lead to 3–0 before halftime. Jamal Musiala had opened the scoring in the 18th, while Michael Olise added another in the 43rd.
Kane struck again in the 54th, bringing his total to 101 goals in 99 matches. The previous record for the fastest to a century was set at 123 games by Dieter Müller, a prolific striker for Cologne in the 1970s.
Olise then completed a hat-trick in the 73rd and 76th. Ismael Saibari was also on target.
Following two unconvincing Bundesliga performances against promoted teams, a goalless draw with Schalke and a 2–1 win over Elversberg, the victory gave leader Bayern 10 points through four matches. It is one point ahead of Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund, who both have a game in hand.
In France, Monaco continued its impressive start to the season under new coach Filipe Luis, defeating Lens 2–1 to remain unbeaten at the top of Ligue 1.
Paris Brunner put Monaco ahead in the 32nd, but Matthieu Udol equalized in the 57th. Jonathan Gradit then scored an own goal in the 84th.
Brunner is still awaiting a likely sanction for a throat-slitting gesture during a goal celebration last weekend.
Lens coach Dino Toppmöller was dismissed in the week after just six games in charge.
In Italy, Gustavo Varela scored twice as Monza pulled off an upset by beating Sassuolo 2–1 to secure its first Serie A win of the season.
Varela found the net in the 51st and 63rd for the Biancorossi, who had lost three of their opening four matches.
Vasilije Adžić pulled a goal back for Sassuolo in the 88th, but it was a disappointing night for a side coming off a 3–2 victory over Juventus.
In Spain, Elche recovered from the early sending-off of Federico Redondo to climb off the foot of the table with a 3-1 win at Espanyol.
Fer Nino scored twice for Elche and Germán Valera also struck. Espanyol replied with an own goal from Víctor Chust.
Elche is now fourth-bottom while Espanyol is ninth.
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Patrick Cutrone of AC Monza fights for the ball during the Serie A soccer match between AC Monza and Sassuolo FC the Brianteo Stadium in Monza, north Italy, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (Tiziano Ballabio /LaPresse via AP)
Ricardo Mangas of AC Monza kicks the ball during the Serie A soccer match between AC Monza and Sassuolo FC the Brianteo Stadium in Monza, north Italy, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (Tiziano Ballabio /LaPresse via AP)
Bayern's head coach Vincent Kompany gestures during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and 1. FC Union Berlin in Munich, Germany, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Bayern's Michael Olise celebrates after scoring his side's sixth goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and 1. FC Union Berlin in Munich, Germany, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Bayern's Harry Kane scores his side's second goal by a penalty during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and 1. FC Union Berlin in Munich, Germany, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
