Lt. Gov. Craig Campbell tells The Associated Press the intent is to give citizens and candidates a clearer sense of who the write-in vote getters are. Sen. Lisa Murkowski waged a write-in campaign in a bid to keep her job after losing the GOP primary to Joe Miller. She is among 160 qualified write-in candidates.
Campbell says officials will begin counting absentee ballots Tuesday. Initially, the write-in count wasn't expected to start until Nov. 18. But Campbell says it's in the state's best interest to get a resolution sooner rather than later.
He hopes to have the write-in count completed within three days and says that should provide a clear picture of who won.
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