Judge throws out controversial votes in North Slope election, declares Nageak winner

A superior court judge has ruled some North Slope votes illegally cast in the August primary election should not be counted, changing the outcome of the race.
Last month, the Division of Elections certified Dean Westlake, of Kotzebue, as winner of the House District 40 race by just eight votes. But a decision by Judge Andrew Guidi puts Westlake’s opponent, Rep. Benjamin Nageak, of Barrow, on top by just two votes.
[Read Judge Guidi’s full decision]
Guidi’s decision stems f