Mary Peltola denies ballot-stacking allegations amid federal investigation

Alaska Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola again denied any involvement in the alleged ballot‑stacking scheme that was reported by The Hill on Friday, saying she was “deeply offended” by the accusations and refusing to comment on a federal probe into the matter. The denial came during a campaign rally in Anchorage, where Peltola reiterated that neither she nor her campaign staff had participated in illegal ballot collection or tampering.

The controversy dates back to the 2022 special election that propelled Peltola to the Senate. In that race, a group of volunteers associated with her campaign was accused of gathering absentee ballots in remote villages and delivering them to a central drop box, a practice Republicans in the state call “ballot harvesting.” The Alaska Division of Elections opened a criminal investigation in early 2023, and in March the U.S. Department of Justice announced a separate probe into possible federal violations. The issue resurfaced this week after a local newspaper obtained emails suggesting coordinated efforts to “stack” ballots in a handful of precincts ahead of the 2024 primary.

Republican leaders have seized on the allegations, calling for a full accounting and warning that any wrongdoing could disqualify Peltola from the ballot. Alaska’s Republican Party filed a lawsuit last month seeking to invalidate votes cast in the disputed precincts. Peltola’s campaign has dismissed the claims as partisan attacks aimed at undermining her bid for a full term. No charges have been filed yet, and both state and federal investigators say they are still gathering evidence.

The investigations are expected to continue through the summer, with a hearing before the Alaska State Board of Elections slated for September. If prosecutors find sufficient proof, the case could lead to criminal charges and potentially impact Peltola’s standing in the upcoming primary, scheduled for August. The outcome will likely shape the narrative of the race and could influence voter confidence in Alaska’s election processes.