04/14/1994 08:00 AM House STA

  SB 303 - UNIFORM VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM                                   
                                                                               
  Number 116                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY opened SB 303 for discussion.                                 
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY called for a recess at 8:55 a.m.  The meeting                 
  resumed at 9:02 a.m.                                                         
                                                                               
  Number 120                                                                   
                                                                               
  LAURA GLAISER, ELECTIONS, OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR,                 
  addressed SB 303.  She referred to CHAIRMAN VEZEY's question                 
  about whether the legislature could change the law and go                    
  back to where a person would not have to register to vote                    
  for federal elections.  Currently, Alaska state law only                     
  allows this to be done for the President.  She answered                      
  Virginia Ragle, Assistant Attorney General, Department of                    
  Law, spoke with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and they                     
  again would not commit to whether they will allow the change                 
  or file suit.  DOJ mentioned one state had gone back and                     
  changed the language of its laws so a person did not have to                 
  be registered for federal elections and made it retroactive                  
  to April 11, 1993, even though the change was just enacted.                  
  DOJ did not look on this favorably.                                          
                                                                               
  Number 156                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY said he questioned if it might be cheaper to                  
  go to a dual standard.  He felt the federal government was                   
  trying to use the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of                  
  1993 to tell Alaska how to regulate federal elections, which                 
  they do not have the authority to do outside of court                        
  authority.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 183                                                                   
                                                                               
  MS. GLAISER responded she felt the Lt. Governor viewed NVRA                  
  as it was directed to the Division of Elections.  She stated                 
  it is extremely expensive to have two dual systems,                          
  therefore CHAIRMAN VEZEY was correct is assuming the federal                 
  government is forcing Alaska to accept that which they want                  
  for the federal government laws.  She noted it is easier to                  
  conform state law to pick up the provisions in NVRA.                         
                                                                               
  Number 197                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY clarified it would be easier to remove the                    
  requirements for registration for federal elections as we                    
  currently do with presidential elections.                                    
                                                                               
  Number 199                                                                   
                                                                               
  MS. GLAISER said correct; however, NVRA says the state                       
  cannot do that.  She noted one state has tried to go                         
  retroactive and that another has just tried to change that                   
  provision.  DOJ is still not committing as to how they would                 
  pursue these changes; however, they gave the impression that                 
  a lawsuit would ensue.                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 207                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY stated the next federal election would be                     
  November 1996.  He questioned if Alaska should be in a rush                  
  to resolve this problem.                                                     
                                                                               
  Number 213                                                                   
                                                                               
  MS. GLAISER replied the only rush is that Alaska is supposed                 
  to be in compliance with NVRA by January 1, 1995.                            
  Compliance by 1995 would ensure the federal election in 1996                 
  would be working under NVRA.                                                 
                                                                               
  Number 226                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY said due to a lack of a quorum the committee                  
  could not take action on SB 303.  He stated parts of SB 303                  
  strike him as strange.  He wondered how the courts would                     
  look upon a law that said it is legal to do something if it                  
  was on the books before a certain date, but it is not legal                  
  if it was not.                                                               
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY held SB 303 in committee.                                     
                                                                               
  Number 241                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS related to additional work caused by                 
  the mandates in federal laws and asked if there has been an                  
  extension on the January 1, 1995, deadline.                                  
                                                                               
  MS. GLAISER replied January 1, 1995, is the only date they                   
  were given.  No extension has been granted.                                  
                                                                               
  Number 260                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE G. DAVIS inquired, should Alaska not be in                    
  compliance, what additional cost might be incurred to the                    
  Division of Elections relating to question ballots or a                      
  lawsuit by a voter.  Has the cost of elections increased                     
  substantially as the population has increased.                               
                                                                               
  MS. GLAISER answered she was not aware of the cost of                        
  elections or question ballots increasing as the population                   
  increases.  She felt SB 303 would not change this.  The                      
  question ballot is important because it is considered a                      
  "fail safe" within federal law.                                              
                                                                               
  Number 280                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked for MS. GLAISER to prepare some of the                  
  information she received from Virginia Ragle so as a report                  
  might be added to the file.