Polls close, ballot counting begins

It's election day in the city and the polls open at 7 a.m. You have until 8 p.m. to cast a ballot.

Time to hire -- or fire -- the people who write local laws, spend property taxes and steer your children's education.

More than half the seats on the Anchorage Assembly are at stake, along with two School Board seats, plus eight bond propositions worth more than $107 million in public money.

Other decisions center on the way the city is run.

Should you always have to show a photo ID before buying booze at an Anchorage liquor store?

Is it OK for someone besides sworn police officers to work for the city writing parking tickets?

Here's more of what you'll find on today's ballot:

• Assembly races -- There's a race in every corner of town, each with an incumbent hoping to hold on to his or her seat. Unlike state legislators, Assembly candidates are not labeled as Republicans or Democrats on the ballot, though would-be Assembly members often count on support from party loyalists to get elected.

• Money for schools -- Three different bonds would cost a total of $71 million. The largest asks voters for $37.1 million for renovations and additions to Service High School in South Anchorage. Others would pay for elementary school and K-8 school design renovations and general safety upgrades at a number of schools, plus money for vocational and technical education buildings.

• Money for roads -- If passed, a $30.9 million road bond would rebuild a section of Ninth Avenue and upgrade Raspberry Road, among other projects.

• Other bonds -- $3 million is for parks and recreation projects like football stadium concessions, trail rehabilitation around town and neighborhood parks repairs. There's more than $900,000 for replacing ambulances, expanding the transit fleet and bus stop improvements, and another $1.2 million to replace a fire department ladder truck.

If you don’t know where to vote, call the polling place locator at 269-8683 or visit muni.org/elections

To see Q&As with all the candidates and review coverage go to adn.com/2011 muni election