Early voting opens for special election over cruise ship limits in Sitka

SITKA, Alaska (KTUU) - Sitka residents started casting their ballots Tuesday morning on a proposed regulation to limit cruise ships.

If voters approve, the proposition would limit cruise ships that accommodate over 250 overnight passengers. The regulations would include limiting port calls from May 1 to Sept. 30 and only for six days a week. There would also be a daily cap of 4,500 passengers and an annual cap of 300,000 passengers per cruise season. Cruise ship operators must also report visitation data to the City and Borough of Sitka.

There will also be regulations for the City and Borough of Sitka to administer a scheduling and permitting system for cruise ships, and would require the City and Borough to enforce provisions for violations.

If the ballot passes, the limitations would go into effect for the 2026 cruise season.




https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2025/05/13/early-voting-opens-special-election-over-cruise-ship-limits-sitka/