How to know if you can vote in city elections

What you need to know:

• Hoping to vote in the upcoming city elections but not sure you live within the boundaries of one of Mat-Su’s three cities? Due to confusing ZIP codes and addresses, many residents struggle to determine whether they live within city limits.
• You can find out if you live within city limits by checking your address on Google Maps, looking up your property record, or checking city voter precinct maps to see if they include your address.
• City elections in Houston, Palmer, and Wasilla will be held on Oct. 1, 2024.

For many residents of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, determining whether they live in one of the area's three cities and can vote in city elections can be confusing.

While most residents have a Wasilla or Palmer mailing address, only a small portion of the Mat-Su Borough's 25,260 square miles lies within city limits. Together, Wasilla, Houston and Palmer cover only 35.9 square miles, with Houston being the largest of the three.

Living in one of the cities comes with some additional perks. For example, residents of Wasilla and Palmer have city water and sewer services. However, they also pay additional taxes for these services. While the borough does not have a sales tax, Wasilla, Palmer and Houston do.

City residents also vote in elections to select city council members or mayors. These elections are held in October, one month before the general, borough and state elections. The 2024 election will be held on Oct. 1. 

In the Mat-Su, only Houston residents have a ZIP code and mailing address that match the city limits, according to ZIP code data. That means if you have a Houston address, you live within the city limits of Houston.

For everyone else, figuring out whether you live within the city limits may take a little effort. Here's how to find out.

How to know if you live within the city limits of Wasilla or Palmer

If you're not sure whether you live within the boundaries of one of Mat-Su's cities, there are a few ways to find out.

This useful tool, created by the Mat-Su Borough, provides an easy-to-use, interactive way to find out not only if you live in one of the cities, but also who your elected officials are throughout the region. To find your elected officials, visit the "Find Your Elected Official" tab and enter your address. If you live within city limits, the list will include a "City Council" section.

This tool also includes a tool to find your polling place, but the results are limited to the precinct name and number, not the actual polling place. To find your precinct, visit the "Find Your Polling Location" tab and enter your address. The tool will give you a name and number, such as "28-475 Trunk". You'll then need to match that with information from the state website or your voter information that you received in the mail.

If the borough site isn't working for you, you can check Google Maps. Type in the city name, and Google will display a map with the city limits. Zoom in to see whether your address is within the boundaries.

Another way, Wasilla City Clerk Jamie Newman said, is to look up your name or address in the borough's property search tool. If you live within one of the cities, it will be listed on the right side of the screen in the "City" box.

Voters in Palmer and Wasilla can also view their city's precinct maps. Both cities have two precincts, with voters divided between them based on location. View the Palmer precinct map here and the Wasilla precinct map here.

Finally, if you're a registered voter in Alaska, think you might live within city limits and want to vote in an October city election, it's OK to just show up on Election Day and vote, Newman said. If the poll worker can't find your name on the voter list, you can vote with a challenged ballot, which will be reviewed by the canvassing board after the polls close. If your vote is accepted, it will be counted. If it is not, you will receive a letter in the mail telling you why, she said.

"Anyone who shows up to vote will not be turned away," she said.