Judge asks if settlement possible in voting case

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – A federal judge has asked the state and the Alaska Native plaintiffs who sued over the translation of voting materials to see if they can reach a settlement.

U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason in September ordered the state to take additional steps to provide voting materials to Alaska Native voters with limited English ahead of the November elections.

Last week, she said had begun reviewing the state’s compliance report and asked that the plaintiffs and the state discuss whether a full or partial settlement of the case was possible.

Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, who took office Dec. 1, said he hadn’t looked at the case in detail. But he said his desire would be to settle the case in a way that meets the needs of the Alaska voter.