Legislature(2017 - 2018)GRUENBERG 120
02/28/2017 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB97 | |
| HB82 | |
| HB1 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 97 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 82 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 1 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 127 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 91 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 1-ELECTION REGISTRATION AND VOTING
4:12:22 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the final order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 1, "An Act relating to absentee voting,
voting, and voter registration; relating to early voting
locations at which persons may vote absentee ballots; and
providing for an effective date."
4:12:38 PM
KENDRA KLOSTER, Staff, Representative Chris Tuck, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Tuck, prime sponsor of
HB 1, explained forthcoming changes to HB 1. She said that
Section 3 of HB 1 will be amended to clarify the verification
process for individuals changing their voter registrations.
These individuals must verify that they have lived in the
district for 30 days, which is a requirement of the state
constitution.
MS. KLOSTER stated that Section 9 of HB 1 will be amended to
allow the applicant of an absentee ballot the option of
receiving an absentee ballot every year without reapplying. She
added that if the absentee voter does not vote for four years or
his/her address becomes outdated, then he/she would be removed
from the list of voters who get their absentee ballots mailed
automatically. Those with a "bad" address may update their
address information with the Division of Elections (DOE) and
reapply to get back on the list.
4:15:08 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KNOPP asked for verification that a person must
be a resident of his/her district for 30 days prior to voting in
that district and that the proposed legislation allows someone
to register the same day as he/she votes.
MS. KLOSTER confirmed that is correct.
REPRESENTATIVE KNOPP expressed his concern that same-day
registration would lead to corruption in elections by allowing
someone to move into a district just 30 days before voting in
the district.
4:17:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK responded that currently one must be
registered to vote 30 days before an election to vote. He said
that the constitution only requires residency for 30 days before
voting in an election. He explained that under the proposed
legislation, someone who moves to a different district but has
not yet changed his/her registration, could register and vote
the same day. He added that if a person moved to the new
district 31 days before the election, he/she still would be
allowed to vote in the election, because the constitution only
requires a 30-day residency.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX mentioned that for presidential elections,
same-day voter registration is allowed nationwide. She added
that a person who is not registered to vote may vote a
questioned ballot, and the ballot will be good for the
presidential election. She asked if a person, who is not
registered to vote but votes a questioned ballot, must show
proof that he/she has lived in the district at least 30 days.
MS. KLOSTER explained that the change to HB 1 would include
clarifying language for a verification process in voting a
questioned ballot. She offered that the process would include a
signed statement verifying residency, and she added that
providing false information is against the law.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX mentioned that she doesn't recall anything
currently in the voter registration process requiring the
registrant to provide proof of residency.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK responded that under the proposed
legislation, a person would be required to have verification of
residency for same-day voter registration. He offered that
voting a questioned ballot updates one's voter registration and,
therefore, serves as reregistration. He asserted that same-day
voter registration, as proposed by HB 1, will allow a person:
to vote in his/her new district on Election Day in all the
races; to re-register by updating the voter registration
records; and to verify residency.
4:22:27 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS opened public testimony on HB 1.
4:22:55 PM
MICHAEL HAWFIELD testified in support of HB 1. He stated his
belief that HB 1 would clarify statutory language about the
voter registration process, streamline and enhance the voting
process, and encourage more participation, especially among
young people.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON referred to the Alaska Voter Registration
via the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) application, Ballot
Measure 1 (2016), and asked if there was an estimate of how many
people have not registered to vote.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK responded that the PFD voter registration
initiative will solve some of the voter registration challenges.
He said that voter registration information is automatically
updated because of the PFD application. He offered that HB 1
would allow someone to vote through same-day registration if
he/she moved to another district after applying for the PFD or
turned 18 years of age two days before Election Day.
4:26:59 PM
ALEX KOPLIN, Kenai Peninsula Votes, testified in support of HB
1. He offered his belief that Alaska does well in registering
voters, but getting people to vote is a challenge, especially in
local elections. He emphasized the importance of increasing
voter turnout. He offered other measures to increase voter
turnout might include allowing people to leave work early to
vote and extending voting beyond one day. He asserted that the
absentee voting process is confusing, and the automatic mail out
of absentee ballots would be a huge improvement and encourage
more voter participation. He opined that Alaska does an
excellent job with online voter registration, which serves to
energize voters and enhance voter turnout. He attested that the
democratic system works when more people get involved, and voter
participation is not a partisan issue.
4:30:28 PM
KIM REITMEIER, Executive Director, Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA) Regional Association, testified
that the association represents the 12 land-based Alaska Native
corporations, 121,000 shareholders, and a significant number of
descendants. She mentioned that she co-chaired the automatic
PFD voter registration initiative, which passed last year. She
stated that the association supports HB 1, supports a modernized
election process, and seeks to ensure that rural residents have
equal access to voter engagement. She asserted that the younger
generation requires new ways of communication and engagement,
and it is "up to us to ensure that we are engaging those
individuals, making processes easier for them, and ensuring that
we have an energized state and communities."
4:32:16 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS closed public testimony on HB 1. He
announced HB 1 would be held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 097 ver A.pdf |
HSTA 2/28/2017 3:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB097 Sponsor Statement ver A 2.23.17.pdf |
HSTA 2/28/2017 3:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB097 Sectional Analysis ver A 2.23.17.pdf |
HSTA 2/28/2017 3:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB097 Fiscal Note DPS 2.25.17.pdf |
HSTA 2/28/2017 3:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB 097 Support Indirect Expenditure Report 2.22.17.pdf |
HSTA 2/28/2017 3:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB 82 Proposed CS ver D 2.28.17.pdf |
HSTA 2/28/2017 3:00:00 PM |
HB 82 |
| HB082 Summary of Changes ver A to ver D 2.27.2017.pdf |
HSTA 2/28/2017 3:00:00 PM |
HB 82 |
| HB01_Elections_Bill_Support_022717.pdf |
HSTA 2/28/2017 3:00:00 PM |
HB 1 |