Public raises concerns about Dominion machines; assembly referral set for manual verification audit ordinance

Several residents told the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly on April 10 that they oppose renewing contracts for Dominion voting machines and want hand counting or audits of ballots.

Don Thompson, a resident who testified during the citizen comment period, told the assembly the "community spoke very loudly in opposition of renewing the Dominion contract. If the machines are still used, they will be used without Dominion support, warranty, or maintenance." He also told the assembly he believes machines have been manipulated in other states and urged local auditors and officials to require verification procedures.

Other speakers echoed that concern. Denise Templeton and Ruby Shorey told the assembly they prefer hand counting and questioned the borough's previous contract decisions; Victoria McDermott and several education supporters who also testified addressed school funding but some referenced broader trust issues in elections. Ella Cotter and Colette Luke likewise urged hand-counting alternatives and said volunteers are willing to participate.

Separately, the assembly docket includes an ordinance introduced by Assemblymember Guttenberg that would amend borough code to require a manual verification audit of canvases of returns. The item was listed on the agenda as "Ordinance number 2020 five-nine, an ordinance... Canvas of returns to require a manual verification audit," and was referred to the committee of the whole and advanced for public hearing on April 24. The ordinance had been removed from the consent agenda earlier in the meeting for separate consideration.

Assemblymembers and local election officials also gave testimony at the meeting. Valerie Therrien, who said she has 20 years of experience as an election official, described existing checks: after ballots are run, "we actually take them out and count them to make sure that the number of ballots that are found on the calculator match the ballots that are found when we count them." Therrien expressed skepticism that there is widespread fraud in borough elections and said audits may unintentionally increase community doubts.

Action and next steps: The Guttenberg ordinance will be heard by the committee of the whole and is scheduled for public hearing on April 24, where the assembly will have an opportunity to take formal action after staff and public input.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance referral: Canvas-of-returns manual verification audit (sponsor: Assemblymember Guttenberg) ' referred to Committee of the Whole and advanced to public hearing on 04/24/2025.