The City of Palmer will hold elections on Tuesday, October 6. Three City Council seats are up this year: two three-year terms and one one-year term.
The candidate filing period runs from 8 a.m. next Monday to 4 p.m. on July 31.
Candidates must select one race. Those seeking a three-year term compete for the two available seats. The top two vote-getters win.
Candidates for the one-year seat run in a separate contest. The highest vote-getter wins.
A candidate can win by a single vote. In the event of a tie, the City Clerk will flip a coin to determine the winner.
Candidates must be registered voters in Palmer city limits. They must have lived in Palmer for at least a year as of the filing date. They must submit complete nomination paperwork by the July 31 deadline. This includes at least 20 signatures from registered Palmer voters. Candidates are encouraged to collect 25 to 30 signatures in case some signatures are not valid.
Candidates may pick up nominating petition packets from the Palmer City Clerk Office or download one from palmerak.org/elections no earlier than July 20, 2026.
A list of certified candidates with their contact information will be posted on the city website. Candidates have a few days to withdraw after the filing period closes. Anyone wishing to run as a write-in candidate must also register during the filing period.
Campaigning is straightforward. Candidates may go door-to-door, distribute literature, and put up campaign signs. Signs require a free permit from the Palmer Community Development Department. They must comply with placement rules.
Palmer municipal elections focus on city issues. Voter turnout is low at around six percent in council-only elections. Candidates play a major role in encouraging residents to vote. This includes personal outreach, signs, and community events. The city promotes elections through its website, social media, and public notices.
Early voting is at Palmer City Hall during the two weeks prior to Election Day.
On election day polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Matanuska-Susitna Borough building and the School District Administration Building..
Residents may request an application to vote absentee by mail from City Hall or the city’s website. Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the Friday following the election to be counted.
The canvass board oversees final vote counting. They review absentee ballots, verify voter eligibility on the question ballots, and audit election day results. All valid ballots are counted with electronic tabulation equipment. The canvass board meetings are open to the public. Residents may observe the process. They may not see any confidential voter information.
Johnson emphasized that residents should vote even if they are unsure whether they live within Palmer city limits. Election officials cannot turn eligible voters away. The officials can issue a questioned ballot if necessary. This process can also update a voter’s registration after a recent move within the city.
Residents must be registered to vote thirty days before Election Day. That’s September 6 this year. Residents can check their voter registration at myvoterportal.alaska.gov. They can update their registration at voterregistration.alaska.gov.
Johnson’s final message is simple: every vote matters, especially in local elections where a small number of ballots can decide the outcome. She encouraged all eligible Palmer residents to vote and make their voices heard.
In other news, the Palmer City Council meets tomorrow night at 6 p.m. in the Palmer Depot.
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This Page Two article was reported by Mike Chmielewski and produced by yours truly, Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Monday, July 13, 2026.
image credit: City of Palmer