Alaska's election officials say DOJ's ballot demand is not even possible
State of AlaskaState election defendants (Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher, the Election Boards and the State Ballot Counting Review Board), through the Alaska Department of Law in a reply on their motion to dismiss
In a reply supporting dismissal of the amended complaint, Alaska's election officials say the relief DOJ demands, including segregating ballots, is inappropriate and not possible because of Alaska voters' right to a secret ballot.
“What’s more, the relief demanded is inappropriate and not even possible given Alaskan voters’ vital right to ballot secrecy.”
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Other statements by State of Alaska in this case
Where this statement fits
DOJ challenges Alaska Senate certification over two Sullivans; Murkowski objects
DOJ sued Alaska over the presence of two candidates named Dan Sullivan on the Senate ballot. It seeks to prevent certification under specified conditions involving an incumbent loss and the possible effect of namesake votes. Lisa Murkowski and Mary Peltola criticize the intervention.
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About this source
Alaska's election officials reply in support of dismissing the amended complaint. They say ballots carry no voter names and are commingled, and that the Division already keeps federal election ballots for 22 months.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The reply opens by saying DOJ's opposition gives the court no reason to keep the lawsuit going, that the voter-registration claim has no legal basis and that the Supremacy Clause claim falls with it.
After the quotation
It continues that the issues are matters of state law, that state law put Daniel J. Sullivan on the ballot months ago and that officials designed the ballot to reduce confusion, and asks the court to dismiss the suit with prejudice. It later says ballots carry no voter names and are commingled, and that the Division keeps federal election ballots for 22 months.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case concerns DOJ's requested conditional restraint on certification of Alaska's Senate election. The election officials say the relief DOJ seeks is inappropriate and impossible under ballot secrecy, and ask the court to dismiss the suit with prejudice.
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More from this case
Read the full caseACLU says the ruling shows DOJ's requested relief would be illegal
American Civil Liberties Union
“The court's get-out-and-don't-come-back ruling makes clear that preemptively blocking election results and running an inquisition into the sincerity of voters' choices would be flatly illegal. Every American should be alarmed that their own Justice Department tried to put voters on trial for how they might vote.”Read statement
Sullivan says he will accept the election results
“No, I'm going to accept the election results.”Read statement
DSCC's Barber calls the ruling a victory for democracy
“Today's ruling is a victory for democracy and a clear message to Donald Trump and Senate Republicans: No one, no matter how powerful, can toss out free and fair elections just because they don't like the result.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Alaska's election officials say DOJ's ballot demand is not even possible". First published: 2026-11-01. Last updated: 2026-11-01. https://disputeindex.com/events/7640-in-a-reply-supporting-dismissal-of-the-amended