SCS CSHB 163(FIN): "An Act relating to qualifications of voters; relating to the registration of voters; relating to election districts and officials; relating to election procedures and ballots; relating to special procedures for elections; relating to nomination of candidates; relating to national elections; relating to special elections and appointments; relating to constitutional amendments; relating to election offenses and corrupt practices; relating to election pamphlets; relating to the deferral of jury service for certain election officials; relating to an exemption from the State Procurement Code regarding election ballots; relating to the provision and use of mailing addresses on permanent fund dividend applications for election purposes; relating to the inclusion of voter registration forms with permanent fund dividend applications; relating to financial statements by public officials and candidates for public office; making conforming amendments in references to 'election district,' 'chairman,' and similar terms; relating to initiative, referendum, and recall petitions; and providing for an effective date."
00SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 163(FIN) 01 "An Act relating to qualifications of voters; relating to the registration of voters; 02 relating to election districts and officials; relating to election procedures and 03 ballots; relating to special procedures for elections; relating to nomination of 04 candidates; relating to national elections; relating to special elections and 05 appointments; relating to constitutional amendments; relating to election offenses 06 and corrupt practices; relating to election pamphlets; relating to the deferral of 07 jury service for certain election officials; relating to an exemption from the State 08 Procurement Code regarding election ballots; relating to the provision and use of 09 mailing addresses on permanent fund dividend applications for election purposes; 10 relating to the inclusion of voter registration forms with permanent fund dividend 11 applications; relating to financial statements by public officials and candidates for 12 public office; making conforming amendments in references to 'election district,' 13 'chairman,' and similar terms; relating to initiative, referendum, and recall 14 petitions; and providing for an effective date."
01 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 02 * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new 03 section to read: 04 INTENT. The division of elections shall facilitate the coordination of local 05 government elections with regular state elections if requested to do so by a local government. 06 * Sec. 2. AS 09.20.035 is amended to read: 07 Sec. 09.20.035. Deferral of jury service. A person may have jury service 08 deferred if the person shows that jury service at the time for which the person is 09 summoned will cause hardship to that person or another, [OR] that transportation 10 problems make it temporarily impossible for the person to serve , or that the person 11 summoned is employed as a full-time or temporary election official and the jury 12 service is during the month in which a primary or general election is held . Jury 13 service may be deferred under this section only if the person seeking the deferment 14 agrees to a deferred date. Jury service may not be deferred for more than 10 months 15 from the date the initial jury service was to begin. 16 * Sec. 3. AS 15.07.010 is amended to read: 17 Sec. 15.07.010. Registration of voters. The precinct election officials 18 [JUDGES] at any election shall allow a person to vote whose name is on the official 19 registration list for that precinct and who is qualified under AS 15.05. A person whose 20 name is not on the official registration list shall be allowed to vote a questioned ballot. 21 * Sec. 4. AS 15.07.064(e) is amended to read: 22 (e) The director shall review the information contained within an application 23 by a voter for registration. The director may not reject an application of a voter who 24 qualifies under (d) of this section because the voter provided information in excess of 25 that required to establish qualifications, including excess information qualifying as a 26 mailing address. The director may consider an application for registration within a 27 municipality or established village described in (d) of this section to comply with law 28 based on other information contained in the application, including evidence that 29 (1) the application was made in person before a voting registrar, 30 election official [JUDGE], or absentee voting official appointed to serve in the 31 municipality or established village;
01 (2) the application of a voter registering by mail was postmarked by 02 the postal official in the municipality or established village; and 03 (3) other information contained in the application does not negate the 04 presumption of residency provided under (a) of this section. 05 * Sec. 5. AS 15.07.064 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 06 (h) Notwithstanding (a) - (g) of this section, the director may substitute a 07 mailing address provided by the voter for the permanent fund dividend program under 08 AS 43.23 as the mailing address for the voter on the registration records of the director 09 under procedures specified in regulations of the director if necessary to maintain 10 accuracy of voting registration records. 11 * Sec. 6. AS 15.07.081 is amended to read: 12 Sec. 15.07.081. Registration officials. The director shall appoint one or more 13 registration officials to serve in each precinct polling place in all elections during the 14 hours the polling places are open. An election official [CLERK OR ELECTION 15 JUDGE] appointed under AS 15.10 may also serve as a registration official. [IF 16 MORE THAN ONE REGISTRATION OFFICIAL IS APPOINTED TO SERVE IN A 17 POLLING PLACE, EACH POLITICAL PARTY SHALL BE REPRESENTED.] 18 * Sec. 7. AS 15.07.100(a) is amended to read: 19 (a) A [THE DIRECTOR SHALL APPOINT ONE OR MORE 20 REGISTRATION OFFICIALS IN EACH PRECINCT. WHEN MORE THAN ONE 21 REGISTRATION OFFICIAL IS APPOINTED TO SERVE IN A PRECINCT, EACH 22 POLITICAL PARTY SHALL BE REPRESENTED. HOWEVER, ANY PRECINCT 23 CONTAINING MORE THAN 250 VOTERS MUST HAVE AT LEAST TWO 24 REGISTRATION OFFICIALS, ONE FROM EACH POLITICAL PARTY. THE] 25 registration official shall be a qualified state voter and shall take an oath to honestly, 26 faithfully , and promptly perform the duties of the office. 27 * Sec. 8. AS 15.07.140 is amended to read: 28 Sec. 15.07.140. General administrative supervision by director. The 29 director shall provide general administrative supervision over the registration and 30 reregistration of voters. The director shall, no later than 120 [40] days before any 31 general election, arrange to have the list of registered voters in a usable electronic
01 format provided free of charge to each political party [OF THE PRECINCT 02 PUBLICLY DISPLAYED. THE DIRECTOR SHALL INSTRUCT REGISTRATION 03 OFFICIALS TO POST THE LIST OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN A NUMBER OF 04 LOCATIONS CALCULATED TO OBTAIN MAXIMUM RECOGNITION]. Upon 05 request by the mayor or manager of a municipality , the director shall furnish 06 registration information for all precincts all or part of which are within the boundaries 07 of the local government unit. 08 * Sec. 9. AS 15.10.107 is amended to read: 09 Sec. 15.10.107. Staff training. The director shall, before each primary 10 election in even-numbered years, provide for a comprehensive training program for 11 election officials, both the full-time members of the staff of the division of elections 12 and those who are appointed as members of election boards [BOARD JUDGES, 13 CLERKS, AND COUNTERS] under AS 15.10.120 - 15.10.140 [AS 15.10.120 - 14 15.10.150] and other temporary election employees. The director shall annually 15 prepare and, not later than January 10, file with the lieutenant governor a plan that 16 describes the comprehensive training program for election officials to be provided to 17 those officials during that calendar year. 18 * Sec. 10. AS 15.10.120 is repealed and reenacted to read: 19 Sec. 15.10.120. Appointment of election board. (a) An election supervisor 20 shall appoint in each precinct within the election supervisor's district an election board 21 composed of at least three qualified voters registered to vote in that precinct. 22 (b) On or before April 15 in each regular election year, or at least 60 days 23 before a special election, a party district committee or state party central committee of 24 each political party may nominate two candidates for each election board. 25 Nominations shall be presented in writing to the election supervisor for the district in 26 which the precinct is located. 27 (c) An election supervisor shall appoint one nominee of the political party of 28 which the governor is a member and one nominee of the political party that received 29 the second largest number of votes statewide in the preceding gubernatorial election. 30 The election supervisor shall appoint at least one additional qualified individual 31 registered to vote in that precinct. If a party district committee or state party central
01 committee of the party of which the governor is a member or the party that received 02 the second largest number of votes statewide in the preceding gubernatorial election 03 fails to present the names prescribed by (b) of this section by April 15 of a regular 04 election year or at least 60 days before a special election, the election supervisor may 05 appoint any qualified individual registered to vote in that precinct. 06 (d) An election supervisor shall appoint a chairperson for each election board 07 within the election supervisor's district. 08 (e) When appointments to the election board have been accepted by the 09 respective appointees, the election supervisor shall notify the director of the names and 10 mailing addresses of the designated chairperson and other election board officials. 11 (f) Election boards for municipal elections shall be appointed by the 12 appropriate municipality. 13 * Sec. 11. AS 15.10.170 is amended to read: 14 Sec. 15.10.170. Appointment and privileges of watchers. The precinct party 15 committee, where an organized precinct committee exists, or the party district 16 [PARTY] committee where no organized precinct committee exists, or the state party 17 chairperson [CHAIRMAN] where neither a precinct nor a party district committee 18 exists, may appoint one or more persons as watchers in each precinct and counting 19 center for any election. Each candidate not representing a political party may appoint 20 one or more watchers for each precinct or counting center in the candidate's respective 21 district or the state for any election. Any organization or organized group that 22 sponsors or opposes an initiative, referendum or recall may have one or more persons 23 as watchers at the polls and counting centers after first obtaining authorization from 24 the director. A [NO] state party chairperson, a [CHAIRMAN, NO] precinct party 25 committee, a party [NO] district committee , or a candidate not representing a political 26 party or organization or organized group may not have more than one watcher on duty 27 at a time in any precinct or counting center. The watcher may be present at a position 28 inside the place of voting or counting that [WHICH] affords a full view of all action 29 of the election officials [BOARD AND OTHER COUNTERS] taken from the time the 30 polls are opened until the ballots are finally counted and the results certified by the 31 election board or the data processing review board. The election board or the data
01 processing review board may require each watcher to present written proof showing 02 appointment by the precinct party committee, the party district [DISTRICT PARTY] 03 committee, the organization or organized group , or the candidate the watcher 04 represents that [WHICH] is signed by the chairperson [CHAIRMAN] of the precinct 05 party committee, the party district [DISTRICT PARTY] committee, the state party 06 chairperson [CHAIRMAN], the organization or organized group , or the candidate 07 representing no party. 08 * Sec. 12. AS 15.10.180 is amended to read: 09 Sec. 15.10.180. Appointment of [PARTY REPRESENTATIVES FOR] state 10 ballot counting review board . The director shall appoint two persons from the 11 political party of which the governor is a member and two persons from the 12 political party that received the second largest number of votes statewide in the 13 preceding gubernatorial election [EACH POLITICAL PARTY] to participate in the 14 state ballot counting review. The director may appoint additional individuals to 15 participate in the state ballot counting review. [EACH PERSON WHO IS 16 APPOINTED AND SERVES IS ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION AS PROVIDED 17 IN AS 15.15.380.] Each political party may present to the director a list of three or 18 more names from which the director shall select the persons to represent the party. 19 The list of names may be submitted in writing at least 30 days before the date of the 20 election. [THE PERSONS TO REPRESENT THE PARTY ON THE STATE 21 BALLOT COUNTING REVIEW BOARD MAY BE SELECTED BY THE STATE 22 PARTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PRESCRIBED 23 BY THE BYLAWS OF THE PARTY.] The list of names shall be certified by the 24 state chairperson [CHAIRMAN] of the political [STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE 25 OF THE] party or by the person authorized by the party bylaws to act in the absence 26 of the chairperson [CHAIRMAN]. 27 * Sec. 13. AS 15.15.030(8) is amended to read: 28 (8) The general or special election ballot shall be designed with the title 29 and proposition for any initiative, referendum, or constitutional amendment formulated 30 as prescribed by law and placed on the ballot in the manner prescribed by the director. 31 When placed on the ballot, a state ballot proposition or ballot question shall carry the
01 number that [WHICH] was assigned to the petition for the proposition or question. 02 Provision shall be made for marking the proposition "Yes" ["FOR"] or "No." 03 ["AGAINST."] 04 * Sec. 14. AS 15.15.030(11) is amended to read: 05 (11) When the legislature by law authorizes a state debt for capital 06 improvements, the director shall place the question of whether the specific 07 authorization shall be ratified by placing the ballot title and question on the next 08 general election ballot, or on the special election ballot if a special election is held for 09 the purpose of ratifying the state debt for capital improvements before the time of the 10 next general election. Unless specifically provided otherwise in the Act authorizing 11 the debt, the ballot title shall, by the use of a few words in a succinct manner, indicate 12 the general subject of the Act. The question shall, by the use of a few sentences in 13 a succinct manner, give a true and impartial summary of the Act authorizing the state 14 debt. The question of whether state debt shall be contracted shall be assigned a letter 15 of the alphabet on the ballot. Provision shall be made for marking the question 16 substantially as follows: 17 "Bonds. . . . . . . Yes" or "Bonds . . . . . . No," 18 followed by an appropriate oval [SQUARE]. 19 * Sec. 15. AS 15.15.070(b) is amended to read: 20 (b) The notice shall be given by publication at least twice in one or more 21 newspapers of general circulation in each of the four judicial [MAJOR ELECTION] 22 districts. The printed notice must [SHALL] specifically include [BUT IS NOT 23 LIMITED TO] the date of election, the hours between which the polling places will 24 be open, the offices to which candidates are to be nominated or elected, and the 25 subject of the propositions and questions that [WHICH] are to be voted on. 26 * Sec. 16. AS 15.15.070(c) is amended to read: 27 (c) Public notice shall also be given by posting notices in those communities 28 that do not have newspapers of general circulation where posting of notice is 29 considered necessary by the director [TWO OR MORE CONSPICUOUS PLACES 30 IN EACH ELECTION PRECINCT]. The posted notice must [SHALL] specifically 31 include [BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO] the date of election, the location of the polling
01 places [PLACE], the hours between which the polling places will be open, the offices 02 to which candidates are to be nominated or elected, [AND] the subject of the 03 propositions and questions that [WHICH] are to be voted on , and other information 04 considered necessary by the director . 05 * Sec. 17. AS 15.15.070(h) is amended to read: 06 (h) An abbreviated form of the notice published under (b) of this section shall 07 be broadcast on one or more radio or television stations in each of the four judicial 08 districts. The broadcast notice must include at a minimum the date of the election, the 09 hours between which the polling places will be open, and the address and phone 10 number of the election supervisor or supervisors for the judicial district in which 11 the notice is broadcast [THE NAMES OF THE NEWSPAPERS IN WHICH THE 12 NOTICE IS PUBLISHED, AND THE DATES OF PUBLICATION IN THE 13 NEWSPAPERS]. 14 * Sec. 18. AS 15.15.110 is amended to read: 15 Sec. 15.15.110. General duties and oath of election board [AND CLERKS]. 16 The election board shall supervise the election in the precinct. Before entering upon 17 the duties of office, each election official [JUDGE AND CLERK] shall take an oath 18 to honestly, faithfully, and promptly perform the duties of office. Any appointed 19 election official, including an appointed election official who has [JUDGE, 20 WHETHER OR] not [HAVING] personally subscribed to the oath, may administer the 21 oath to another election official [JUDGE]. The chairperson [CHAIRMAN] of the 22 election board shall rotate the time at which election officials [JUDGES AND 23 CLERKS] may be relieved for meals. 24 * Sec. 19. AS 15.15.120 is amended to read: 25 Sec. 15.15.120. Filling vacancies in election board. If an appointed election 26 board member [JUDGE OR CLERK] fails to appear and subscribe to the oath on 27 election day or becomes incapacitated during the time of the election or the counting 28 of the ballots, the election board members present shall elect, by a majority voice vote, 29 a qualified voter to fill the vacancy. The qualified voter elected to fill the vacancy 30 shall be of the same political party as the person for whom the substitution is made 31 unless, after reasonable effort, the election board members determine that a qualified
01 voter of the same political party is not available. 02 * Sec. 20. AS 15.15.130 is amended to read: 03 Sec. 15.15.130. Majority decision of election board. The decision of the 04 majority of election board members [JUDGES] determines the action that the election 05 board shall take regarding any question that [WHICH] arises during the course of the 06 election. 07 * Sec. 21. AS 15.15.140(c) is amended to read: 08 (c) On disclosure that unofficial ballots have been used without the 09 certification required under (b) of this section, the director shall notify the chairperson 10 [CHAIRMAN] of the election board by telephone or electronic transmission 11 [TELEGRAM] of the failure to certify the ballots properly. 12 * Sec. 22. AS 15.15.140(d) is amended to read: 13 (d) The director may accept a certificate made by electronic transmission 14 [TELEGRAM] and count the ballots if the certificate is proper and actually received 15 by the director within 10 days after [OF] the date that the chairperson [CHAIRMAN] 16 of the election board was notified under (c) of this section. 17 * Sec. 23. AS 15.15.160 is amended to read: 18 Sec. 15.15.160. Prohibition of political discussion by election board. During 19 the hours that the polls are open, an election board member [A JUDGE OR CLERK] 20 may not discuss any political party, candidate , or issue while on duty. 21 * Sec. 24. AS 15.15.170 is amended to read: 22 Sec. 15.15.170. Prohibition of political persuasion near election polls. 23 During the hours the polls are open, a person who is in the polling place or within 200 24 feet of any entrance to the polling place may not attempt to persuade a person to vote 25 for or against a candidate, proposition , or question. The election officials [JUDGES] 26 shall post warning notices at the required distance in the form and manner prescribed 27 by the director. 28 * Sec. 25. AS 15.15.180 is amended to read: 29 Sec. 15.15.180. Keeping of register. The election officials [JUDGES] shall 30 keep a register or registers in which each voter before receiving a ballot shall sign the 31 voter's name and give both a residence [RESIDENT] and mailing address. A record
01 shall be kept in the registration book in space provided of the names [NAME] of 02 persons who offer to vote but who actually do not vote, and a brief statement of 03 explanation. The signing of the register constitutes a declaration by the voter that the 04 voter is qualified to vote. 05 * Sec. 26. AS 15.15.195 is amended to read: 06 Sec. 15.15.195. Voters on official registration list. An election official 07 [JUDGE] in a precinct shall allow a voter on the official registration list to vote in the 08 precinct unless the voter is questioned in accordance with AS 15.15.210. 09 * Sec. 27. AS 15.15.198 is amended to read: 10 Sec. 15.15.198. Voters not on official registration list. (a) If a voter's name 11 does not appear on the official registration list in the precinct in which the voter seeks 12 to vote, the election official [JUDGE] shall affirmatively advise the voter that the voter 13 may cast a questioned ballot , and the voter shall be allowed to vote a questioned 14 ballot. 15 (b) A person whose registration is inactive under AS 15.07.130(b) and who 16 votes a questioned or absentee ballot shall have the ballot counted if 17 (1) the person was registered to vote in the last four calendar years 18 [FOR EITHER OF THE TWO MOST RECENT GENERAL ELECTIONS]; 19 (2) the person signs a statement to that effect; and 20 (3) the earlier registration is verified by the director. 21 * Sec. 28. AS 15.15.210 is amended to read: 22 Sec. 15.15.210. Questioning of voters of suspect qualification. Every 23 election official [JUDGE AND ELECTION CLERK] shall question, and every watcher 24 and any other person qualified to vote in the precinct may question , a person 25 attempting to vote if the questioner has good reason to suspect that the questioned 26 person is not qualified under AS 15.05 [TO VOTE]. All questions regarding a 27 person's qualifications to vote shall be made in writing setting out the reason the 28 person has been questioned. A questioned person shall, before voting , [SHALL] 29 subscribe to a declaration in a form provided by the director attesting to the fact that 30 in each particular the person meets all the qualifications of a voter, is not disqualified, 31 and has not voted at the same election, and certifying that the person understands that
01 a false statement on the declaration may subject the person to prosecution for a 02 misdemeanor under this title or AS 11. [THE QUESTIONED PERSON SHALL 03 ALSO STATE THE PLACE FROM WHICH THAT PERSON CAME 04 IMMEDIATELY BEFORE LIVING IN THE PRECINCT WHERE OFFERING TO 05 VOTE AND THE LENGTH OF TIME OF RESIDENCE IN THE FORMER PLACE.] 06 After the questioned person has executed the declaration, the person may vote. If the 07 questioned person refuses to execute the declaration, the person may not vote. 08 * Sec. 29. AS 15.15.215(a) is amended to read: 09 (a) A voter who casts a questioned ballot shall vote the ballot in the same 10 manner as prescribed for other voters. The voter shall insert the ballot into a secrecy 11 sleeve and [, THE ELECTION JUDGE SHALL REMOVE THE NUMBERED STUB 12 FROM THE BALLOT, AND THE VOTER SHALL] put the secrecy sleeve into an 13 envelope on which the statement the voter previously signed is located. The envelope 14 shall be sealed and deposited in the ballot box. When the ballot box is opened, the 15 envelopes shall be segregated, counted, compared to the voting list, and delivered to 16 the official or body supervising the election. The merits of the question shall be 17 determined by this official or body in accordance with the procedure prescribed for 18 questioned votes in AS 15.20.207. 19 * Sec. 30. AS 15.15.220 is amended to read: 20 Sec. 15.15.220. Administration of oaths. Any election official [JUDGE] may 21 administer to a voter any oath that is necessary in the administration of the election. 22 * Sec. 31. AS 15.15.225(a) is amended to read: 23 (a) Before being allowed to vote, each voter shall exhibit to an election official 24 [JUDGE] one form of identification, including [BUT NOT LIMITED TO] an official 25 voter registration card, driver's license, birth certificate, passport, [OR] hunting or 26 fishing license , or other form of identification as prescribed by regulation . 27 * Sec. 32. AS 15.15.225(b) is amended to read: 28 (b) An election official [JUDGE] may waive the identification requirement if 29 the election official [JUDGE] knows the identity of the voter. 30 * Sec. 33. AS 15.15.230 is amended to read: 31 Sec. 15.15.230. Providing ballot to voter. When the voter has qualified to
01 vote, the election official [JUDGE] shall give the voter an official ballot. The voter 02 shall retire to a booth or private place to mark the ballot. 03 * Sec. 34. AS 15.15.240 is amended to read: 04 Sec. 15.15.240. Voter assistance [ASSISTING VOTER BY JUDGE]. A 05 qualified voter needing assistance in voting [WHO CANNOT READ, MARK THE 06 BALLOT, OR SIGN THE VOTER'S NAME] may request an election official 07 [JUDGE], a person, or not more than two persons of the voter's choice to assist. If the 08 election official [JUDGE] is requested, the election official [JUDGE] shall assist the 09 voter. If any other person is requested, the person shall state upon oath before the 10 election official [JUDGE] that the person will not divulge the vote cast by the person 11 assisted. 12 * Sec. 35. AS 15.15.250 is amended to read: 13 Sec. 15.15.250. Disposition of spoiled [IMPROPERLY MARKED] ballot. 14 If a voter improperly marks , [OR OTHERWISE] damages , or otherwise spoils a 15 ballot, the voter may request and the election board shall provide another ballot, with 16 a maximum of three . The [, AND THE] board shall record on the precinct register 17 that there was a spoiled [THE NUMBER OF THE IMPROPERLY MARKED OR 18 DAMAGED] ballot and destroy the spoiled ballot [IT] immediately without 19 examining it. 20 * Sec. 36. AS 15.15.260 is amended to read: 21 Sec. 15.15.260. Placing ballot in ballot box by voter. When the voter has 22 marked a ballot, the voter shall inform the election official [JUDGE]. The 23 [DIRECTOR MAY REQUIRE THAT THE VOTER RETURN THE BALLOT TO 24 THE ELECTION JUDGE TEMPORARILY SO THAT ANY STUB WHICH MAY BE 25 PART OF THE BALLOT MAY BE REMOVED BY THE ELECTION JUDGE. ANY 26 SUCH REQUIREMENT SHALL PROTECT THE SECRECY OF THE BALLOT. IN 27 ALL CASES THE] ballot shall be deposited in the ballot box by the voter in the 28 presence of the election official [JUDGE] unless the voter requests the election official 29 [JUDGE] to deposit the ballot on the voter's behalf. Separate ballot boxes may be 30 used for separate ballots. 31 * Sec. 37. AS 15.15.330 is amended to read:
01 Sec. 15.15.330. Commencement of ballot count. When the polls are closed 02 and the last vote has been cast in a hand-count precinct , the election board [AND 03 CLERKS OR COUNTERS] shall immediately proceed to open the ballot box and to 04 count the votes cast. In all cases , the election board shall cause the count to be 05 continued without adjournment until the count is complete. 06 * Sec. 38. AS 15.15.340 is amended to read: 07 Sec. 15.15.340. Report, oath , and vacancies of additional election officials 08 [COUNTERS]. Additional election officials [COUNTERS] shall report to the 09 election board at the polls at the time designated by the election supervisor or the 10 chairperson [CHAIRMAN] of the election board to assume their duties to assist the 11 election board in counting the vote. Before undertaking the duties of office, each 12 additional election official [COUNTER] shall subscribe to an oath to honestly, 13 faithfully, impartially, and promptly carry out the duties of the position. [AN 14 ELECTION JUDGE MAY ADMINISTER THE OATH.] If an additional election 15 official [APPOINTED COUNTER] fails to appear and subscribe to the oath at the time 16 designated by the election supervisor, the election board shall appoint any qualified 17 voter to fill the vacancy. 18 * Sec. 39. AS 15.15.350(a) is amended to read: 19 (a) The director may adopt regulations prescribing the manner in which the 20 precinct ballot count is accomplished so as to assure accuracy in the count and to 21 expedite the process. The election board shall account for all ballots by completing 22 a ballot statement containing (1) the number of official ballots received; (2) the number 23 of official ballots voted; (3) the number of official ballots spoiled; (4) the number of 24 official ballots unused and destroyed. The board shall count the number of questioned 25 ballots and shall compare that number to the number of questioned voters in the 26 register. Discrepancies shall be noted and the numbers included in the certificate 27 prescribed by AS 15.15.370. The election board , in hand-count precincts, shall count 28 the ballots in a manner that allows watchers to see the ballots when opened and read. 29 A [NO] person handling the ballot after it has been taken from the ballot box and 30 before it is placed in the envelope for mailing may not have a marking device in hand 31 or remove a ballot from the immediate vicinity of the polls.
01 * Sec. 40. AS 15.15.360 is amended to read: 02 Sec. 15.15.360. Rules for counting [HAND-MARKED] ballots in hand- 03 count precincts . (a) The election board shall count [HAND-MARKED] ballots in hand-count precincts 04 according to the following rules : [.] 05 (1) A voter may mark a ballot only by filling in, making [THE USE 06 OF CROSS-MARKS,] "X" marks, diagonal, horizontal , or vertical marks, solid marks, 07 stars, circles, asterisks, checks, or plus signs that are clearly spaced in the oval 08 [SQUARE] opposite the name of the candidate , proposition, or question that the 09 voter desires to designate. 10 (2) A failure to properly mark a ballot as to one or more candidates 11 does not itself invalidate the entire ballot. 12 (3) If a voter marks fewer names than there are persons to be elected 13 to the office, a vote shall be counted for each candidate properly marked. 14 (4) If a voter marks more names than there are persons to be elected 15 to the office, the votes for candidates for that office may not be counted. 16 (5) The mark specified in (1) of this subsection shall be counted only 17 if it is substantially inside the oval [SQUARE] provided, or touching the oval 18 [SQUARE] so as to indicate clearly that the voter intended the particular oval 19 [SQUARE] to be designated. 20 (6) Improper marks on the ballot may not be counted and do not 21 invalidate marks for candidates properly made. 22 (7) An erasure or correction invalidates only that section of the ballot 23 in which it appears. 24 (8) A vote marked for the candidate for President or Vice-President of 25 the United States is considered and counted as a vote for the election of the 26 presidential electors. 27 (9) Write-in votes are not invalidated by writing in the name of a 28 candidate whose name is printed on the ballot unless the election board determines, on 29 the basis of other evidence , that the ballot was so marked for the purpose of 30 identifying the ballot. 31 (10) [STICKERS BEARING A CANDIDATE'S NAME MAY BE
01 AFFIXED TO THE BALLOT IN PLACE OF WRITING IN A CANDIDATE'S 02 NAME IF WRITE-IN VOTES ARE OTHERWISE PERMITTED. STICKERS MAY 03 NOT BE ISSUED BY MEMBERS OF THE ELECTION BOARD WHILE SERVING 04 AT THE POLLS. STICKERS MAY NOT BE OFFERED TO VOTERS WITHIN 200 05 FEET OF THE POLLING PLACE. 06 (11)] In order to vote for a write-in candidate, the voter must write in 07 the candidate's name in the space provided [OR PLACE A STICKER IN THE SPACE] 08 and fill in [, IN ADDITION, MARK] the oval [SQUARE] opposite the candidate's 09 name in accordance with (1) of this subsection. 10 (11) A vote for a write-in candidate, other than a write-in vote for 11 governor and lieutenant governor, shall be counted if the oval is filled in for that 12 candidate and if the name, as it appears on the write-in declaration of candidacy, 13 of the candidate or the last name of the candidate is written in the space 14 provided. 15 (12) If the write-in vote is for governor and lieutenant governor, the 16 vote shall be counted if the oval is filled in and the names, as they appear on the 17 write-in declaration of candidacy, of the candidates for governor and lieutenant 18 governor or the last names of the candidates for governor and lieutenant 19 governor, or the name, as it appears on the write-in declaration of candidacy, of 20 the candidate for governor or the last name of the candidate for governor is 21 written in the space provided. 22 (b) The rules set out in this section are mandatory and there are [SHALL BE] 23 no exceptions to them. A ballot may not be counted unless marked in compliance 24 with these rules. 25 (c) The rules set out in this section apply to [HAND-MARKED PUNCH- 26 CARD] ballots used in hand-count precincts where precinct tabulators [IF PUNCH- 27 CARD MACHINES] are not available [IN A PRECINCT]. 28 * Sec. 41. AS 15.15.361 is repealed and reenacted to read: 29 Sec. 15.15.361. Stickers. Affixing stickers on a ballot in an election to vote 30 for a write-in candidate is prohibited. 31 * Sec. 42. AS 15.15.390 is amended to read:
01 Sec. 15.15.390. Certifying election expenses. The director shall prescribe the 02 manner of certifying, auditing, and paying election expenses, including the cost of 03 giving notice, renting polling places, paying election officials [JUDGES, CLERKS, 04 AND COUNTERS], securing a ballot box, postage, and stationery, and obtaining 05 similar election necessities. 06 * Sec. 43. AS 15.15.430 is repealed and reenacted to read: 07 Sec. 15.15.430. Scope of the review of ballot counting. (a) The review of 08 ballot counting by the director shall include only a review of 09 (1) the precinct registers, tallies, and ballots cast; and 10 (2) absentee and questioned ballots as prescribed by law. 11 (b) If, following the ballot review set out in (a) of this section, the director 12 finds an unexplained discrepancy in the ballot count in any precinct, the director may 13 count the ballots from that precinct. The director shall certify in writing to the state 14 ballot counting review board any changes resulting from the count. 15 * Sec. 44. AS 15.15.470 is amended to read: 16 Sec. 15.15.470. Preservation of election ballots, papers, and materials. The 17 director shall preserve all precinct election certificates, tallies, and registers for four 18 years after the election. All ballots and stubs for elections other than national 19 elections may be destroyed 30 days after the certification of the state ballot counting 20 review unless an application for recount has been filed and not completed, or unless 21 their destruction is stayed by an order of the court. All ballots for national elections 22 may be destroyed in accordance with federal law. The director may permit the 23 inspection of election materials upon call by the Congress, the state legislature, or a 24 court of competent jurisdiction. 25 * Sec. 45. AS 15.20.015 is amended to read: 26 Sec. 15.20.015. Moving from house [ELECTION] district just before 27 election. A person who meets all voter qualifications except the requirement [THAT 28 LISTED] in AS 15.05.010(4) is qualified to vote by absentee ballot in the house 29 [ELECTION] district in which the person formerly resided if the person lived in that 30 house [ELECTION] district for at least 30 days immediately before changing 31 residence , except that the person may vote only for
01 (1) statewide ballot measures and questions; 02 (2) candidates for federal or statewide offices; 03 (3) candidates for the state senate if the voter's former residence 04 and present residence are in the same senate district; and 05 (4) candidates for judicial retention if the voter's former residence 06 and present residence are in the same judicial district . 07 * Sec. 46. AS 15.20.020 is amended to read: 08 Sec. 15.20.020. Provision for general administrative supervision. The 09 director shall provide general administrative supervision over the conduct of absentee 10 voting. The director shall make available instructions to absentee voters regarding the 11 procedure for absentee voting. [ONE SET OF INSTRUCTIONS SHALL 12 ACCOMPANY EACH ABSENTEE BALLOT.] 13 * Sec. 47. AS 15.20.061(a) is amended to read: 14 (a) A qualified voter may apply in person for an absentee ballot to the 15 following election officials at the times specified: 16 (1) to an absentee voting official [IN THE ELECTION DISTRICT IN 17 WHICH THE VOTER RESIDES] on or after the 15th day before an election up to and 18 including [THE DAY BEFORE] the date of the election; 19 (2) to an election supervisor 20 (A) after a date announced by the director under 21 AS 15.20.048(b); and 22 (B) on or after the 15th day before an election up to and 23 including the date of the election; 24 (3) to an absentee voting official at an absentee voting station 25 designated under AS 15.20.045(b) at any time when the absentee voting station is 26 operating; 27 (4) [TO AN ABSENTEE VOTING OFFICIAL IN THE PRECINCT 28 IN WHICH THE VOTER RESIDES WHEN DISTANCES PRECLUDE EASY 29 ACCESS TO THE POLLING PLACE ON OR AFTER THE 15TH DAY BEFORE 30 AN ELECTION UP TO AND INCLUDING ELECTION DAY; 31 (5)] to an absentee voting official in the precinct in which no volunteers
01 can be located to serve on the election board on or after the 15th day before an 02 election up to and including election day. 03 * Sec. 48. AS 15.20.061(d) is amended to read: 04 (d) The election official may not accept a marked ballot that has been 05 exhibited by an absentee voter with intent to influence other voters. If the absentee 06 voter spoils [IMPROPERLY MARKS OR OTHERWISE DAMAGES] a ballot, the 07 voter may request and the election official shall provide another ballot up to a 08 maximum of three. Exhibited or spoiled [, IMPROPERLY MARKED, OR 09 DAMAGED] ballots shall be destroyed. The numbers of all ballots destroyed shall be 10 noted on the ballot statement. 11 * Sec. 49. AS 15.20 is amended by adding a new section to read: 12 Sec. 15.20.064. Early voting. (a) A qualified voter who meets the 13 requirements set out in this section may vote early in the office of an election 14 supervisor on or after the 15th day before an election up to and including election day. 15 (b) The election supervisor or other election official shall issue a ballot to the 16 voter upon 17 (1) exhibition of proof of identification as required in AS 15.15.225; 18 (2) verification that the voter's residence address appearing on the 19 official registration list is current and within the election supervisor's jurisdiction; and 20 (3) the voter's signing the early voting register. 21 (c) After the voter has marked the ballot, the voter shall place the ballot in the 22 secrecy sleeve and inform the election supervisor or other election official. The voter 23 shall deposit the ballot in the ballot box in the presence of the election supervisor or 24 other election official unless the voter requests the election supervisor or other election 25 official to deposit the ballot on the voter's behalf. The tabulation of early voting 26 ballots may not begin before 8:00 p.m. prevailing time on election day. 27 * Sec. 50. AS 15.20 is amended by adding a new section to read: 28 Sec. 15.20.072. Special needs voting. (a) A qualified voter with a disability 29 who, because of that disability, is unable to go to a polling place to vote may vote a 30 special needs ballot. 31 (b) The voter may, through a representative, request a special needs ballot
01 from the following election officials at the times specified: 02 (1) from an absentee voting official on or after the 15th day before an 03 election, up to and including election day; 04 (2) from an election supervisor 05 (A) after a date announced by the director under 06 AS 15.20.048(b); and 07 (B) on or after the 15th day before an election up to and 08 including election day; 09 (3) from an absentee voting official at an absentee voting station 10 designated under AS 15.20.045(b) at a time when the absentee voting station is in 11 operation; or 12 (4) from a member of the precinct election board on election day. 13 (c) If the request for a special needs ballot is made through a representative, 14 the representative shall sign a register provided by an election official. The register 15 must include the following information: 16 (1) the representative's name; 17 (2) the representative's residence and mailing address; 18 (3) the representative's social security number, voter number, or date 19 of birth; 20 (4) the name of the voter on whose behalf the representative is 21 requesting a ballot and voting materials; 22 (5) an oath that the representative 23 (A) is receiving a ballot and voting materials on behalf of the 24 voter; 25 (B) will not vote the ballot for the voter; 26 (C) will not coerce the voter; 27 (D) will not divulge the vote cast by the voter; and 28 (E) has been notified that unlawful interference with voting is 29 punishable under AS 15.56.030; 30 (6) the representative's signature. 31 (d) The representative shall deliver the special needs ballot and other voting
01 materials to the voter as soon as practicable. The voter shall mark the ballot in secret, 02 place the ballot in the secrecy sleeve, and place the secrecy sleeve in the envelope 03 provided. The voter shall provide the information on the envelope that would be 04 required for absentee voting if the voter voted in person. The voter shall sign the 05 voter's certificate in the presence of the representative. The representative shall sign 06 as attesting official and date the voter's signature. 07 (e) The representative shall deliver the ballot and voter certificate to an 08 election official not later than 8:00 p.m. Alaska time on election day. 09 (f) If a qualified voter's disability precludes the voter from performing any of 10 the requirements of (d) of this section, the representative may perform those 11 requirements, except making the voting decision, on the voter's behalf. 12 (g) The voter's employer, an agent of the voter's employer, or an officer or 13 agent of the voter's union may not act as a representative for the voter. A candidate 14 for office at an election may not act as a representative for a voter in the election. 15 * Sec. 51. AS 15.20.082(c) is amended to read: 16 (c) A special state absentee ballot prepared for the state general election or for 17 a state special election shall, if the names of candidates are not yet certified, permit 18 a voter to cast a ballot for all the candidates of a particular political party that expects 19 to have candidates appear on the ballot; for this purpose, the director shall prepare the 20 ballot with party boxes and a blank line for each office to be voted on in that election. 21 The voter may vote for a candidate for that office by writing in the name of a person 22 and filling in [MARKING] the oval [BOX] to the right of that name , or the voter may 23 mark one of the party boxes. If the voter puts a mark in a party box for that office, 24 the director shall count the mark as a vote cast for the candidate for that office 25 nominated by that party. If the voter writes in a name for an office, the vote shall be 26 counted as a write-in vote for that office. The director shall count the ballots under 27 AS 15.15.360. The director shall provide the voter with the names of each candidate 28 appearing on the primary election ballot and the names of any candidates who have 29 qualified by petition to appear on the general election ballot. 30 * Sec. 52. AS 15.20.190(a) is amended to read: 31 (a) Thirty days before the date of an election, the election supervisors shall
01 appoint, in the same manner provided for the appointment of election officials 02 [JUDGES] prescribed in AS 15.10 [AS 15.10.150], district absentee ballot counting 03 boards and district questioned ballot counting boards, each composed of at least four 04 members. At least one member of each board must be a member of the same political 05 party of which the governor is a member, and at least one member of each board must 06 be a member of the political party whose candidate for governor received the second 07 largest number of votes in the preceding gubernatorial election. The district boards 08 shall assist the election supervisors in counting the absentee and questioned ballots and 09 shall receive the same compensation paid election officials [JUDGES] under 10 AS 15.15.380. 11 * Sec. 53. AS 15.20.205(c) is amended to read: 12 (c) The district questioned ballot counting board may [SHALL] certify the 13 questioned ballot totals as soon as the count is completed but no later than the 15th 14 [10TH] day following the election. 15 * Sec. 54. AS 15.20.211(a) is amended to read: 16 (a) If a qualified voter of the state votes a ballot for a house [AN ELECTION] 17 district other than the house [ELECTION] district in which the voter is registered, that 18 person may vote only for 19 (1) statewide ballot measures and questions; 20 (2) candidates for federal or statewide offices; 21 (3) candidates for the state senate if the voter's former residence 22 and present residence are in the same senate district; and 23 (4) candidates for judicial retention if the voter's former residence 24 and present residence are in the same judicial district [THE VOTES CAST FOR 25 STATEWIDE CANDIDATES AND FOR STATEWIDE BALLOT PROPOSITIONS 26 AND STATEWIDE QUESTIONS SHALL BE COUNTED. IF THE QUALIFIED 27 VOTER VOTED FOR A CANDIDATE FOR THE STATE SENATE FROM THE 28 SENATE DISTRICT IN WHICH THE VOTER IS A RESIDENT, THE VOTE 29 SHALL BE COUNTED. THE VOTES CAST FOR CANDIDATES OR BALLOT 30 PROPOSITIONS OR QUESTIONS NOT APPEARING ON THE BALLOT OF THE 31 DISTRICT IN WHICH THE VOTER IS A RESIDENT MAY NOT BE COUNTED].
01 * Sec. 55. AS 15.20.480 is amended to read: 02 Sec. 15.20.480. Procedure for recount. In conducting the recount, the 03 director shall review all ballots , whether the ballots were counted at the precinct or by 04 computer or by the district absentee counting board or the questioned ballot counting 05 board , to determine which ballots, or part of ballots, were properly marked and which 06 ballots are to be counted in the recount, and shall check the accuracy of the original 07 count, the precinct certificate , and the review. [THE DIRECTOR SHALL CHECK 08 THE NUMBER OF BALLOTS AND QUESTIONED BALLOTS CAST IN A 09 PRECINCT AGAINST THE REGISTERS AND SHALL CHECK ABSENTEE 10 BALLOTS VOTED AGAINST ABSENTEE BALLOTS DISTRIBUTED.] The 11 director shall count absentee ballots received before the completion of the recount. For 12 administrative purposes, the director may join and include two or more applications 13 in a single review and count of votes. The rules in AS 15.15.360 governing the 14 counting of [HAND-MARKED] ballots in hand-count precincts [AND THE RULES 15 IN AS 15.20.730 GOVERNING THE COUNTING OF PUNCH-CARD BALLOTS] 16 shall be followed in the recount when a ballot is challenged on the basis of a 17 question regarding the voter's intent to vote for the candidate, proposition, or 18 question . The ballots and other election material must remain in the custody of the 19 director during the recount , and the highest degree of care shall be exercised to protect 20 the ballots against alteration or mutilation. The recount shall be completed within 10 21 days. The director may employ additional personnel necessary to assist in the recount. 22 * Sec. 56. AS 15.20.800(e) is amended to read: 23 (e) The director shall review ballots voted under this section under procedures 24 established for the review of absentee ballots under AS 15.20.201 and 15.20.203. The 25 director shall establish the schedule for counting ballots in an election conducted 26 by mail. 27 * Sec. 57. AS 15.25.040(a) is amended to read: 28 (a) The declaration is filed by either 29 (1) the actual physical delivery of the declaration in person or by mail 30 at or before 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, June 1 of the year in which a general election 31 is held for the office; or
01 (2) reliable electronic transmission [THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL 02 DELIVERY BY TELEGRAM] of a copy in substance of the statements made in 03 paragraphs (1) - (5) of the declaration as required by AS 15.25.030(a) at or before 5:00 04 p.m., prevailing time, June 1 of the year in which a general election is held for the 05 office and also the actual physical delivery of the declaration containing paragraphs 06 (1) - (16) as required by AS 15.25.030(a) by [REGISTERED] mail that [WHICH] is 07 received not more than 15 days after that time. 08 * Sec. 58. AS 15.25.100 is amended to read: 09 Sec. 15.25.100. Placement of nominees on general election ballot. The 10 director shall place the name of the candidate receiving the highest number of votes 11 for an office by a political party on the general election ballot. However, the director 12 may not place on the general election ballot the name of the candidate from a 13 political party receiving the greatest number of votes for the office of 14 (1) governor unless there is also a candidate for lieutenant governor 15 of that political party; 16 (2) lieutenant governor unless there is also a candidate for governor 17 of that political party. 18 * Sec. 59. AS 15.25 is amended by adding a new section to read: 19 Sec. 15.25.105. Write-in candidates. (a) If a candidate does not appear on 20 the primary election ballot or is not successful in advancing to the general election and 21 wishes to be a candidate in the general election, the candidate may file as a write-in 22 candidate. Votes for a write-in candidate may not be counted unless that candidate has 23 filed a letter of intent with the director stating 24 (1) the full name of the candidate; 25 (2) the full residence address of the candidate and the date on which 26 residency at that address began; 27 (3) the full mailing address of the candidate; 28 (4) the name of the political party or political group of which the 29 candidate is a member, if any; 30 (5) if the candidate is for the office of state senator or state 31 representative, the house or senate district of which the candidate is a resident;
01 (6) the office that the candidate seeks; 02 (7) the date of the election at which the candidate seeks election; 03 (8) the length of residency in the state and in the house district of the 04 candidate; 05 (9) the name of the candidate as the candidate wishes it to be written 06 on the ballot by the voter; 07 (10) that the candidate meets the specific citizenship requirements of 08 the office for which the person is a candidate; 09 (11) that the candidate will meet the specific age requirements of the 10 office for which the person is a candidate by the time that the candidate, if elected, is 11 sworn into office; 12 (12) that the candidate is a qualified voter as required by law; and 13 (13) that the candidate is not a candidate for any other office to be 14 voted on at the general election and that the candidate is not a candidate for this office 15 under any other nominating petition or declaration of candidacy. 16 (b) If a write-in candidate is running for the office of governor, the candidate 17 must file a joint letter of intent together with a candidate for lieutenant governor. Both 18 candidates must be of the same political party or group. 19 (c) A letter of intent under (a) of this section must be filed not later than five 20 days before the general election. 21 * Sec. 60. AS 15.25.130 is amended to read: 22 Sec. 15.25.130. Selection of nominees for party petition. The nominees of 23 political parties by party petition may be selected for statewide offices by the state 24 party central committee or in any other manner prescribed by the party bylaws, and 25 the petition for statewide offices shall be signed by the state chairperson 26 [CHAIRMAN] of the political party [CENTRAL COMMITTEE,] or , in the absence 27 of the state chairperson [CHAIRMAN], by any two members of the state party 28 central committee. The nominees of political parties by party petition may be selected 29 for district-wide offices by the respective party district committee or in any other 30 manner prescribed by the party bylaws, and the petition for district-wide offices shall 31 be signed by the chairperson [CHAIRMAN] of the party district committee, or in the
01 absence of the chairperson [CHAIRMAN], by any two members of the party district 02 committee, or in any other manner prescribed by the party bylaws. The petition may 03 be delivered in person, or by mail, telegraph, [OR] facsimile , or other reliable 04 electronic transmission . 05 * Sec. 61. AS 15.25.180(a) is amended to read: 06 (a) The petition must state in substance 07 (1) the full name of the candidate; 08 (2) the full residence address of the candidate [,] and the date on which 09 residency at that address began; 10 (3) the full mailing address of the candidate; 11 (4) the name of the political group, if any, supporting the candidate; 12 (5) if the candidacy is for the office of state senator or state 13 representative, the house [ELECTION] or senate district of which the candidate is a 14 resident; 15 (6) the office for which the candidate is nominated; 16 (7) the date of the election at which the candidate seeks election; 17 (8) the length of residency in the state and in the district of the 18 candidate; 19 (9) that the subscribers are qualified voters of the state or house 20 [ELECTION] or senate district in which the candidate resides; 21 (10) that the subscribers request that the candidate's name be placed on 22 the primary election ballot; 23 (11) that the proposed candidate accepts the nomination and will serve 24 if elected, with the statement signed by the proposed candidate; 25 (12) the name of the candidate as the candidate wishes it to appear on 26 the ballot; [AND] 27 (13) that the candidate is not a candidate for any other office to be 28 voted on at the primary or general election and that the candidate is not a candidate 29 for this office under any other nominating petition or declaration of candidacy ; 30 (14) that the candidate meets the specific citizenship requirements 31 of the office for which the person is a candidate;
01 (15) that the candidate will meet the specific age requirements of 02 the office for which the person is a candidate by the time that the candidate, if 03 elected, is sworn into office; and 04 (16) that the candidate is a qualified voter . 05 * Sec. 62. AS 15.30.020 is amended to read: 06 Sec. 15.30.020. Number and manner of selecting candidates. Each political 07 party shall select a number of candidates for electors of President and Vice-President 08 [VICE PRESIDENT] of the United States equal to the number of senators and 09 representatives to which the state is entitled in Congress. The candidates for electors 10 shall be selected by the state party convention or in any other manner prescribed by 11 the bylaws of the party. The chairperson [CHAIRMAN] and secretary of the state 12 convention or any other party official designated by the party bylaws shall certify a 13 list of the names of candidates for electors to the director on or before September 1 14 in presidential election years. 15 * Sec. 63. AS 15.40.300 is amended to read: 16 Sec. 15.40.300. Selection of party nominees. The nominees of political 17 parties may be selected by state convention or in any other manner prescribed by the 18 party bylaws, and the petition shall be signed by the chairperson [CHAIRMAN] and 19 secretary of the state convention, or , if the nominees are selected by the party central 20 committee, the petition shall be signed by the state chairperson of the political party 21 [CHAIRMAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE] or in any other manner prescribed 22 by the party bylaws. 23 * Sec. 64. AS 15.45.110(a) is amended to read: 24 (a) The petitions may be circulated throughout the state [ONLY BY A 25 SPONSOR AND] only in person. 26 * Sec. 65. AS 15.45.110(c) is amended to read: 27 (c) A circulator [SPONSOR] may not receive payment or agree to receive 28 payment that is greater than $1 a signature, and a person or an organization may not 29 pay or agree to pay an amount that is greater than $1 a signature, for the collection of 30 signatures on a petition. 31 * Sec. 66. AS 15.45.110(e) is amended to read:
01 (e) A person or organization that violates (c) or (d) [(b) - (d)] of this section 02 is guilty of a class B misdemeanor. 03 * Sec. 67. AS 15.45.130 is amended to read: 04 Sec. 15.45.130. Certification of circulator [SPONSOR]. Before being filed, 05 each petition shall be certified by an affidavit by the person [SPONSOR] who 06 personally circulated the petition. The affidavit must state in substance that (1) the 07 person signing the affidavit meets the residency, age, and citizenship qualifications 08 of AS 15.05.010 [IS A SPONSOR], (2) the person is the only circulator of that 09 petition, (3) the signatures were made in the circulator's [SPONSOR'S] actual 10 presence, (4) to the best of the circulator's [SPONSOR'S] knowledge, the signatures 11 are those of the persons whose names they purport to be, (5) the signatures are of 12 persons who were qualified voters on the date of signature, (6) the person has not 13 entered into an agreement with a person or organization in violation of 14 AS 15.45.110(c), (7) the person has not violated AS 15.45.110(d) with respect to that 15 petition, and (8) the circulator [SPONSOR] prominently placed, in the space provided 16 under AS 15.45.090(5) before circulation of the petition, in bold capital letters, the 17 circulator's [SPONSOR'S] name and, if the circulator [SPONSOR] has received 18 payment or agreed to receive payment for the collection of signatures on the petition, 19 the name of each person or organization that has paid or agreed to pay the circulator 20 [SPONSOR] for collection of signatures on the petition. In determining the sufficiency 21 of the petition, the lieutenant governor may not count subscriptions on petitions not 22 properly certified. 23 * Sec. 68. AS 15.45.340 is amended to read: 24 Sec. 15.45.340. Circulation [BY SPONSOR]. The petitions may be 25 circulated throughout the state [ONLY BY A SPONSOR AND] only in person. 26 * Sec. 69. AS 15.45.360 is amended to read: 27 Sec. 15.45.360. Certification of circulator [SPONSOR]. Before being filed, 28 each petition shall be certified by an affidavit by the person [SPONSOR] who 29 circulated the petition. The affidavit shall state in substance that (1) the person signing 30 the affidavit meets the residency, age, and citizenship qualifications of 31 AS 15.05.010 [IS A SPONSOR], (2) the person is the only circulator of the petition,
01 (3) the signatures were made in the circulator's [SPONSOR'S] actual presence, and 02 (4) to the best of the circulator's [SPONSOR'S] knowledge, the signatures are the 03 signatures of persons whose names they purport to be. In determining the sufficiency 04 of the petition, the lieutenant governor may not count subscriptions on petitions not 05 properly certified. 06 * Sec. 70. AS 15.45.580 is amended to read: 07 Sec. 15.45.580. Circulation [BY SPONSOR]. The petitions may be 08 circulated [ONLY BY A SPONSOR AND] only in person throughout the state or 09 senate or house [ELECTION] district represented by the official sought to be recalled. 10 * Sec. 71. AS 15.45.600 is amended to read: 11 Sec. 15.45.600. Certification of circulator [SPONSOR]. Before being filed, 12 each petition shall be certified by an affidavit by the person [SPONSOR] who 13 personally circulated the petition. The affidavit shall state in substance that (1) the 14 person signing the affidavit meets the residency, age, and citizenship qualifications 15 of AS 15.05.010 [IS A SPONSOR], (2) the person is the only circulator of that petition 16 or copy, (3) the signatures were made in the circulator's [SPONSOR'S] actual 17 presence, and (4) to the best of the circulator's [SPONSOR'S] knowledge, the 18 signatures are those of the persons whose names they purport to be. In determining 19 the sufficiency of the petition, the director may not count subscriptions on petitions not 20 properly certified. 21 * Sec. 72. AS 15.50.040 is amended to read: 22 Sec. 15.50.040. Display of resolution. The director shall provide each 23 election board with one copy [10 COPIES] of the resolution proposing the 24 constitutional amendment by the legislature or by the convention, and the election 25 board shall display the copy [THREE COPIES] of the resolution in a conspicuous 26 place in the room where the election is held. 27 * Sec. 73. AS 15.56.016(a) is amended to read: 28 (a) A person commits the crime of campaign misconduct in the third degree 29 if 30 (1) the person violates a provision of AS 15.13 or a regulation adopted 31 under AS 15.13; or
01 (2) during the hours the polls are open and after election officials 02 [JUDGES] have posted warning notices as required by AS 15.15.170 or at the required 03 distance in the form and manner prescribed by the chief municipal elections official 04 in a local election, the person is within 200 feet of an entrance to a polling place, and 05 (A) violates AS 15.15.170; or 06 (B) circulates cards, handbills, or marked ballots, or posts 07 political signs or posters relating to a candidate at an election or election 08 proposition or question. 09 * Sec. 74. AS 15.56.030(d) is amended to read: 10 (d) For purposes of (a)(2) and (3) of this section, "other valuable thing" 11 (1) includes [, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO,] 12 (A) an entry in a game of chance in which a prize of money or 13 other present or future pecuniary gain or advantage may be awarded to a 14 participant wherein the total of the prizes offered is greater than $2 per 15 participant with a maximum of $100; and 16 (B) government employment or benefits; 17 (2) does not include 18 (A) materials having a nominal value bearing the name, 19 likeness, or other identification of a candidate, political party, political group, 20 party district committee, or organization, or stating a position on a ballot 21 proposition or question; 22 (B) food and refreshments provided incidental to an activity that 23 is nonpartisan in nature and directed at encouraging persons to vote, or 24 incidental to a gathering in support of or in opposition to a candidate, political 25 party, political group, party district committee, organization, or ballot question 26 or proposition; 27 (C) care of the voter's dependents provided in connection with 28 the absence of a voter from home for the purpose of voting; 29 (D) services provided by a person acting as a [PERSONAL] 30 representative under AS 15.20.072 [AS DEFINED IN AS 15.20.071]; 31 (E) services provided by an election official as defined in
01 AS 15.60.010; and 02 (F) transportation of a voter to or from the polls without charge. 03 * Sec. 75. AS 15.58.030(b) is amended to read: 04 (b) No later than July 22 [JULY 15] of a year in which a state general 05 election will be held, an individual who becomes a candidate for the office of United 06 States senator, United States representative, governor, lieutenant governor, state 07 senator, or state representative under AS 15.25.030 or 15.25.180 [UNDER 08 AS 15.25.180] may file with the lieutenant governor a photograph and a statement 09 advocating the candidacy. An individual who becomes a candidate for the office of 10 United States senator, United States representative, governor, lieutenant governor, state 11 senator, or state representative by party petition filed under AS 15.25.110 may file 12 with the lieutenant governor a photograph and a statement advocating the candidacy 13 within 10 days of becoming a candidate. 14 * Sec. 76. AS 15.58.080(a) is amended to read: 15 (a) Not less than 22 [30] days before the general election, the lieutenant 16 governor shall mail to every registered voter one copy of the pamphlet prepared for 17 the region in which the voter resides. Additional pamphlets may be obtained from the 18 director, the office of the lieutenant governor, and the area election offices. 19 * Sec. 77. AS 15.60.010(2) is amended to read: 20 (2) "ballot" means any document provided by the director on which 21 votes may be cast for candidates, propositions, or questions [A HAND-MARKED 22 BALLOT AND A PUNCH-CARD BALLOT]; 23 * Sec. 78. AS 15.60.010(4) is amended to read: 24 (4) "election board" means the board appointed in accordance with 25 AS 15.10.120 [LOCAL PRECINCT BOARD COMPOSED OF THE THREE 26 ELECTION JUDGES]; 27 * Sec. 79. AS 15.60.010(6) is amended to read: 28 (6) "election official" means election board members [JUDGES, 29 CLERKS, COUNTERS], members of counting or review boards, employees of the 30 division of elections , and absentee voting officials; 31 * Sec. 80. AS 15.60.010(8) is repealed and reenacted to read:
01 (8) "felony involving moral turpitude" includes those crimes that are 02 immoral or wrong in themselves such as murder, manslaughter, assault, sexual assault, 03 sexual abuse of a minor, unlawful exploitation of a minor, robbery, extortion, coercion, 04 kidnapping, incest, arson, burglary, theft, forgery, criminal possession of a forgery 05 device, offering a false instrument for recording, scheme to defraud, falsifying business 06 records, commercial bribe receiving, commercial bribery, bribery, receiving a bribe, 07 perjury, perjury by inconsistent statements, endangering the welfare of a minor, escape, 08 promoting contraband, interference with official proceedings, receiving a bribe by a 09 witness or a juror, jury tampering, misconduct by a juror, tampering with physical 10 evidence, hindering prosecution, terroristic threatening, riot, criminal possession of 11 explosives, unlawful furnishing of explosives, promoting prostitution, criminal 12 mischief, misconduct involving a controlled substance or an imitation controlled 13 substance, permitting an escape, promoting gambling, possession of gambling records, 14 distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography; 15 * Sec. 81. AS 15.60.010(10) is amended to read: 16 (10) " hand-counted [HAND-MARKED] ballot" means a ballot 17 designated to be counted [MARKED] by hand in precincts where precinct 18 tabulators are not available [WITH A PEN OR PENCIL]; 19 * Sec. 82. AS 15.60.010(28) is amended to read: 20 (28) "senate district" means one of the [TERRITORY INCLUDED IN 21 THE ELECTION] districts described in [AS DESIGNATED IN ART. XIV, SEC. 2, 22 OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION, AS MAY BE MODIFIED UNDER] art. VI , 23 sec. 2, Constitution of the State of Alaska [OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION]; 24 * Sec. 83. AS 15.60.010(31) is amended to read: 25 (31) "state chairperson [CHAIRMAN]" or "state party chairperson" 26 means the political party official elected as the highest ranking statewide party 27 executive; 28 * Sec. 84. AS 15.60.010 is amended by adding new paragraphs to read: 29 (37) "house district" means one of the districts described in art. VI, 30 sec. 1, Constitution of the State of Alaska; 31 (38) "judicial district" means one of the districts defined in
01 AS 22.10.010; 02 (39) "precinct tabulators" means an electronic optical scanning ballot 03 tabulation system or other tabulator designated by the director to electronically count 04 ballots. 05 * Sec. 85. AS 29.26.050(b) is amended to read: 06 (b) Voter registration by the municipality may not be required. However, in 07 order to vote for a candidate or on a ballot measure relating to a specific local election 08 district or service area, a municipality may by ordinance require that a person be 09 registered to vote in state elections at least 30 days before the municipal election at an 10 address within the boundaries of that local election district or service area. The 11 municipality has the responsibility to determine if a voter meets the requirements 12 of the ordinance and this section. 13 * Sec. 86. AS 36.30.850(b)(7) is amended to read: 14 (7) contracts for the preparation and transportation of ballots under 15 AS 15 [AS 15.15.030]; 16 * Sec. 87. AS 39.50.020(a) is amended to read: 17 (a) A public official other than the governor or the lieutenant governor shall 18 file a statement giving income sources and business interests, under oath and on 19 penalty of perjury, within 30 days after taking office as a public official. Candidates 20 for state elective office other than a candidate who is subject to AS 24.60 shall file the 21 statement with the director of elections at the time of filing a declaration of candidacy 22 or a nominating petition or becoming a candidate by any other means. Candidates for 23 elective municipal office shall file the statement at the time of filing a nominating 24 petition, declaration of candidacy, or other required filing for the elective municipal 25 office. Refusal or failure to file within [30 DAYS AFTER] the time prescribed shall 26 require that the candidate's filing fees, if any, and filing for office be refused or that 27 a previously accepted filing fee be returned and the candidate's name removed from 28 the filing records. A statement shall also be filed by public officials no later than 29 March 15 in each following year. Persons who are members of boards or commissions 30 not named in AS 39.50.200(b) are not required to file financial statements. 31 * Sec. 88. AS 43.23.016 is amended to read:
01 Sec. 43.23.016. Voter registration. The commissioner shall include , at the 02 department's expense, voter registration forms prepared under AS 15.07.070(b) in the 03 [WITH] permanent fund dividend application packet. The forms must include a 04 notice that an individual is not required to register to vote in order to be eligible 05 to receive a permanent fund dividend. For purposes of maintaining accurate 06 voter registration records, the commissioner shall provide the director of 07 elections with the mailing addresses of all applicants for a permanent fund 08 dividend [APPLICATIONS]. 09 * Sec. 89. AS 15.10.130, 15.10.150; AS 15.15.030(12); 15.15.070(e); 15.15.070(f); 10 AS 15.20.190(b), 15.20.590, 15.20.600, 15.20.609, 15.20.610, 15.20.620, 15.20.630, 15.20.640, 11 15.20.650, 15.20.660, 15.20.670, 15.20.680, 15.20.685, 15.20.690, 15.20.700, 15.20.710, 12 15.20.720, 15.20.730, 15.20.740; AS 15.45.110(b); AS 15.58.070; AS 15.60.010(5), 13 and 15.60.010(24) are repealed. 14 * Sec. 90. AS 15.20.071 is repealed. 15 * Sec. 91. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section 16 to read: 17 TRANSITION: REGULATIONS. Notwithstanding sec. 95 of this Act, the director 18 of elections may proceed to adopt regulations necessary to interpret or implement this Act. 19 The regulations take effect under AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act), but not before 20 July 1, 2000. 21 * Sec. 92. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section 22 to read: 23 REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION. In the following statute sections, the revisor shall 24 change 25 (1) references to "election district," "electoral district," or "house election 26 district" to read "house district": AS 03.20.050, AS 15.05.010(4), 15.05.012, AS 15.07.030(b), 27 15.07.090(c), 15.07.090(d), 15.07.120, AS 15.10.040, 15.10.090, AS 15.13.020(j), 28 15.13.400(10), AS 15.15.030(6), 15.15.060(d), AS 15.20.081(e), 15.20.430(a), 15.20.440(a), 29 15.20.450, AS 15.25.030(a)(3), 15.25.043, 15.25.170, AS 15.40.440, AS 15.45.500, 30 AS 15.45.530, 15.45.560, 15.45.610, 15.45.680, AS 15.58.020(3), AS 44.62.430(b), and 31 AS 46.03.313(d);
01 (2) references to "election districts" to read "house districts": AS 03.20.020(a), 02 AS 15.10.110, AS 15.20.045(b), AS 15.45.140, 15.45.160, 15.45.370, 15.45.390(2), and 03 AS 15.58.020(4); 04 (3) references to "chairman" to read "chairperson": AS 15.10.140, 05 AS 15.13.020(g), 15.13.090(a), AS 15.15.090, AS 15.20.470, AS 15.40.210, 15.40.460, and 06 AS 15.58.040(b); and 07 (4) references to "chairmen" to read "chairpersons": AS 15.15.050 and 08 15.15.380. 09 * Sec. 93. Section 91 of this Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). 10 * Sec. 94. Sections 49, 50, 74, and 90 of this Act take effect January 1, 2001. 11 * Sec. 95. Except as provided in secs. 93 and 94 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 12 2000.