Here’s a plain-English guide to the major propositions every Kenai Peninsula Borough voter will see on the 2025 ballot: what they mean, what changes, and what your vote will do.

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September 25, 2025 by the Seward Folly Staff

Voting Information for Seward Area Residents

Absentee In-Person voting is now open for Lowell Point, Seward, and Bear Creek residents. Head to Council Chambers at City Hall, 410 Adams Street, to cast your ballot early.

• Dates: Monday, September 22, through Monday, October 6
• Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Ballots for both the City of Seward and the Kenai Peninsula Borough will be available during absentee voting.

The Regular Municipal Election is scheduled for Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Bear Creek residents will vote on Election Day at the Bear Creek Fire Station. Seward and Lowell Point residents will vote on Election Day at Seward City Hall.

Reminder: Seward Folly, Peninsula Clarion, and KBBI Seward City Council Candidate Forum is next Monday, Sept. 29, at 5:00 p.m. at the Seward Library. The public is invited.

Reminder: Following the Seward City Council Candidate Forum is a Townhall Meeting on Seward’s Energy Future at 7:00 p.m. at the Rae Building.

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Proposition 1: Should All In-Person Election Day Ballots Be Counted By Hand?

Voters will decide whether to change how in-person Election Day votes are tallied. Right now, the borough uses electronic voting machines. This initiative would require all in-person ballots to be hand-counted at each precinct by local registered voters.

• A “yes” vote: Means Election Day ballots would be counted by hand at each polling place, not by machines. Counting would start as soon as polls close, with the work done by local voters.
• A “no” vote: Keeps the current machine-counting process.

What to Consider:
Hand-counting ballots is more expensive and takes much longer. For example counting 50,000 ballots by hand could take weeks, compared to hours by machine. Hand counts also have higher error rates and can raise worries about mistakes or tampering. On the other side, some voters worry about hacking or transparency with machines, unless strong audits are in place.

Sources: Voting Rights Lab, League of Women Voters, Brennan Center for Justice

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Proposition 3: Raising the Property Tax Exemption for Homeowners

This measure asks if the tax-free portion of a home’s value should go up from $50,000 to $75,000.

• If it passes: Homeowners won’t pay property taxes on the first $75,000 of their home’s value, up from $50,000 now. This means most people will see lower property tax bills. The new exemption would start in 2026 (for the 2027 fiscal year).
• A “yes” vote: Supports raising the exemption to $75,000.
• A “no” vote: Keeps it at $50,000.

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Proposition 4: Should the Sales Tax Cap Adjust for Inflation Every Five Years?

This proposition would change the rules so the maximum amount of a purchase subject to sales tax gets adjusted for inflation every five years, instead of staying fixed.

• Why this matters: If the sales tax cap doesn’t keep up with inflation, the borough collects less in real dollars over time, which can strain the budget and lead to potential service cuts or future tax increases.
• A “yes” vote: Updates the sales tax cap every five years to match inflation, using Anchorage’s Consumer Price Index as the benchmark.
• A “no” vote: Leaves the cap fixed, even as costs rise.

Reference: “The effect of property tax limitation measures on local government fiscal behavior,” Journal of Public Economics

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Proposition 5: Moving Borough Elections to Coincide with State Elections

This citizen initiative would shift the borough’s election day to line up with the State of Alaska’s, moving local elections from October to November.

• Why consider this? Research shows that more people vote in local elections when they’re held alongside state or federal contests, making the electorate more representative and reducing the sway of narrow special interests. However, it can create logistical headaches: state law says separate workers and equipment are required for each election, and local issues may get less attention on crowded ballots.
• A “yes” vote: Moves borough elections to November, matching the state’s schedule.
• A “no” vote: Keeps borough elections in October.

References:
“Municipal institutions and voter turnout in local elections”;
“Turnout in local elections: Is timing really everything?” Election Law Journal

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These summaries are designed to help you navigate the ballot and cast an informed vote on issues that shape local governance, taxes, and elections in the Kenai Peninsula Borough.