Legislature(2019 - 2020)GRUENBERG 120
04/04/2019 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB98 | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| Commissioner, Department of Public Safety | |
| HB115 | |
| HB118 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 118 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 115 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 98 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 115-ABSENTEE VOTING
5:25:29 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the next order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 115, "An Act relating to absentee voting; and
providing for an effective date."
5:25:49 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS TUCK, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor of HB 115, paraphrased from the sponsor statement as
follows:
House Bill 115 would give Alaskans the option to
receive absentee ballots by mail for future state
elections.
Currently, the Permanent Absentee Voter List is
limited to Alaskans that reside in remote areas
without reasonable access to an in-person polling
place, disabled voters who ask to be designated a
permanent absentee voter, and voters whose permanent
residence is an institution serving the aged or
persons with a disability.
House Bill 115 would preclude the Division of
Elections from requiring a voter who chooses to
receive an absentee ballot for all future elections to
reapply for an absentee ballot unless the voter has
not voted an absentee ballot for a period of four
years or the voter's previous absentee ballot was
returned to the division as undeliverable.
Since the 1960s, absentee voting has been legal in
most states as a way for eligible voters to cast a
ballot without being at their normal designated
polling place on Election Day. The federal Voting
Rights Act of 1970 included protections for absentee
voters. Currently, eight states and the District of
Columbia allow permanent absentee voting.
House Bill 115 would give voters the option to always
receive an absentee ballot without having to fill out
an application. This simple change to Alaska's
absentee voting system would make absentee voting in
Alaska more convenient for those who prefer the ease
of casting a ballot through the mail.
Please join me in support of House Bill 115, which
will strengthen our representative democracy by making
it easier for Alaskans to cast a vote.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK referred to Hawaii's voter registration
application, which allows the applicant to choose to always vote
by mail, unless terminated by missing an election or the ballot
is returned to Hawaii's Office of Elections.
5:29:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL asked about the mechanics of voting under
the proposed legislation - whether a voter's name would be at a
polling place if they received and returned a ballot to the
Division of Elections (DOE) by mail. He asked whether the
proposed legislation represents a precursor to "vote by mail."
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK responded, "It can be." He added that under
HB 115, voting by mail would be an elective for the individual
and not enforced on everyone. He mentioned that he likes to go
to the polling place to vote; however, the proposed legislation
offers a convenience for voters.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked about the process for applying for an
absentee ballot - by paper, online, or both.
5:30:47 PM
GAIL FENUMIAI, Director, Division of Elections (DOE), answered
that currently DOE allows people to vote absentee by applying by
mail, by facsimile (fax), or through its on-line ballot delivery
system.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE referred to the zero-fiscal note (FN) and
asked whether under HB 115, there would be increased costs for
automatically mailing out ballots for four years.
MS. FENUMIAI replied that DOE anticipates that under HB 115, the
increase would be gradual. It is possible that the number of
people choosing to vote by mail would become great enough to
cause DOE to reevaluate and possibly request a budgetary
increase; however, at this time there is much uncertainty.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked for the number of absentee voters
currently [participating] in statewide elections.
MS. FENUMIAI responded that it fluctuates from year to year -
from a primary election to a general election.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked for a general estimate to project the
fiscal impact. She pointed out that when the Municipality of
Anchorage implemented its Vote By Mail, the cost was more than
$1 million - substantially more than in-person voting.
MS. FENUMIAI replied that in the 2018 general election, there
were 25,807 people requesting a ballot by mail; in the 2016
general election, there were 31,499; in the 2014 general
elections, there were 31,282; in the 2012 general election,
there were 33,940; in the 2010 general election, there were
30,400; and the 2008 general election had 45,769.
5:33:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked for clarification: if a person
requested an absentee ballot, it would automatically be sent to
them for the next four years.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK responded by saying that the preference
would be a check box for someone to opt to have a permanent
absentee ballot.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL asked whether for someone applying for an
absentee ballot, his/her name would be taken off the voter list
in the polling place or the name on the mailed ballot would be
cross-referenced against the names at the polling place.
MS. FENUMIAI answered that there are mechanisms for marking the
precinct register, if someone has voted already. She expressed
her belief that currently DOE does not have the capability of
marking "requested an absentee by mail ballot." She said DOE
has checks and balances in place to check whether someone voted
a by-mail ballot and at the polling place on Election Day. She
maintained that the person's name would not be removed from the
register; the register contains every eligible voter in the
precinct. A person requesting a by-mail ballot may change
his/her mind and go to a polling place instead.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE commented that she highly values the
integrity of elections, and she expressed that having an
automatic mail out for four years by checking a box is
concerning. She offered her belief that this removes the
accountability to make a concerted effort to be involved in the
voting process. She suggested that having such a check box for
receiving the permanent fund dividend (PFD) for four years is
abhorrent to her, because she believes that the process for
applying for the PFD should be intentional and should ensure
residency and identification. She offered that over-convenience
may encourage disengagement. She stated that she likes the idea
of reminding people that it is time to vote; just because the
ballot comes by mail does not ensure engagement; and the cost of
printing and mailing is a concern to her.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK stated that the intent of HB 115 is to make
voting more convenient; because of that convenience, the
Anchorage municipal elections received much greater
participation. He added the it provides convenience to people
in hospitals, people who are bed-ridden, people who are
disabled, and people in rural Alaska, who can only vote by mail.
He reiterated the conditions under which the permanent absentee
voting would be discontinued.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK agreed to invite testimony from the
Municipality of Anchorage Elections to provide more information
on any election integrity issues as a result of its Vote By Mail
system.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL, in response to Representative Vance's
concern, commented that one still must receive the ballot, open
it up, fill it out, and mail it back, therefore, putting some
thought and time into voting.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS mentioned that the mailed ballot is quite
challenging.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS stated that HB 115 would be held over.