Peltola campaign sues Alaska to get records on rejected absentee ballots

Mary Peltola's campaign is taking legal action against Alaska to obtain records of rejected absentee ballots from Tuesday's election. The Democratic US Senate candidate is in a tight contest with Republican Dan S. Sullivan. Approximately 600 votes separate the two candidates. Ballots from remote areas are still being counted.

The outcome of the race may depend on mailed or flown-in ballots from remote communities, which will be accepted until November 18. Democrats have secured control of the US Senate, but the undecided races in Alaska and Mississippi will determine the majority size. Peltola's campaign group, Alaskans for Mary, filed a lawsuit seeking the release of records.

The campaign requested records on October 27 and again on Wednesday, but received no response and was denied immediate access. The state Department of Law argues that the records are confidential and not required to be released by Alaska law. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to compel the release of the records, citing time sensitivity.