The largest state of the Union in terms of physical size, Alaska lies to the far north of the Pacific Ocean bordering Russia, Canada and the Arctic.
It is the 49th state and is comprised of 25 counties. The capital is Juneau.
On March 30, 1867, Secretary of State William H. Seward signed an agreement with Russian Minister to the United States Baron Edouard Stoeckl ceding possession of the vast territory of Alaska to the U.S. for the sum of $7.2 million. In 1879, lacking a civil infrastructure in the new American district, the United States Navy took control over Alaska under the leadership of Commander L. A. Beardslee who became its military governor. Congress' passage of the First Organic Act of 1884 stripped military power over Alaska and installed various localized civil governments throughout the district. In 1897, the Klondike Gold Rush ushered in a wave of migration into Alaska.
In April of 1912, Congress passed the Second Organic Act which conferred territory status, a mandate to create a legislature and appointment of a governor. In January of 1958, President Dwight Eisenhower officially endorsed statehood for Alaska & on January 3, 1959 he signed the official declaration making Alaska the 49th state.
General Elections: Polling places open from 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Primary Elections: Held on the 4th Tuesday in August of every even-numbered year.[Link]
Legislative terms begin on the second Monday in January following a presidential election year and on the third Tuesday in January following a gubernatorial election.
