Legislature(2009 - 2010)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/01/2010 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB260 | |
| SB244 | |
| SB209 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 209 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 244 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 260 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 239 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 92 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 260-ELECTRIC & TELEPHONE COOPERATIVES' VOTING
CHAIR FRENCH announced the consideration of SB 260.
1:32:44 PM
SENATOR LINDA MENARD, sponsor of SB 260, read the following
sponsor statement into the record:
Senate Bill 260 puts in statute the ability for
telephone or electric cooperatives to allow members to
vote by electronic transmission as specified by the
co-op's by-laws. The bill was filed at the urging of
co-ops around the state.
Currently, coop members may only vote in person or via
the postal service. This method, however, is outdated
and could be having a negative impact on member
participation in elections and other important
matters.
By allowing telephone and electric co-ops to permit
voting via electronic transmission approved in its by-
st
laws, the Legislature will make it so common 21
century practices may be applied to important public
involvement matters.
There is a zero fiscal note with this bill, and co-ops
in every corner of Alaska will be enthused the
Legislature has had the foresight to pass legislation
important to their public process. This bill does not
make electronic transmission voting mandatory, and
cooperatives choose whether they want to partake or
not.
Already, however, Matanuska Telephone Association
(MTA) members have voted to adopt a new bylaw allowing
electronic transmission voting. All MTA, and other co-
ops, need is for the Legislature to amend the statute
to allow these co-ops to do so.
CHAIR FRENCH told the committee that he's comfortable with the
bill having heard it in a previous committee. The key is that
it's permissive, not mandatory, he said.
SENATOR COGHILL asked for an explanation of what the bylaws
would look like under this condition.
1:36:05 PM
PHIL STEYER, Manager, Government & Corporate Communications,
Chugach Electric Association, Inc., said Chugach Electric
supports SB 260. It adds an option to what is currently allowed
in statute, but it's not mandatory. Members of a co-op would
have to vote to amend their bylaws to allow electronic voting.
Chugach Electric members already voted to amend their own bylaws
to allow this.
He pointed out that the phrase "as specified by the cooperative"
is intended to allow each cooperative to define election
procedures that work for that organization. Chugach intends for
members to vote via the Internet, but it could be something else
for another cooperative. Cooperatives that belong to the Alaska
Power Association, which is a statewide trade organization for
electric utilities, have worked to develop appropriate language
that each cooperative could support, he said.
1:38:33 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI joined the committee.
SENATOR COGHILL commented that this has been considered in a
number of different forms in the Legislature.
CHAIR FRENCH asked what it takes to change a cooperative's
bylaws.
MR. STEYER explained that Chugach Electric puts a ballot issue
before its members to amend the bylaws. A simple majority is
required. He noted that the vote in 2001 to amend the bylaws to
allow electronic voting was a significant majority.
MR. STEYER responded to Senator Coghill's question and explained
that Chugach Electric's bylaws mirror the language in AS 10.25,
which says, "A member may not vote by proxy but may vote, if the
bylaws so provide, by mail." Chugach Electric bylaws go on to
say that a ballot packet will be mailed out in advance as
specified in statute and that the Board is required to set a
record date that is consistent with state statute.
If SB 260 passes, Chugach Electric would consider whether or not
it could do electronic voting securely before moving ahead.
Electronic voting would need to be as secure as by mail and in-
person voting is today.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if security procedures are sufficient
to do this safely.
MR. STEYER replied Chugach Electric hasn't entered any
agreement, but it has met with prospective vendors. He's spoken
with two co-ops in other states that participate in electronic
voting to ask if it increased voter turnout, if younger voters
in particular are participating, and if there have been
problems. Answers to the first two questions weren't
illuminating, but both co-ops indicated that they encountered no
problems with the process.
1:43:25 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if the bill would allow a co-op to
offer only electronic elections. He said he'd have a problem
with that because a lot of his constituents don't have access to
computers.
MR. STEYER replied the statute has been amended over time as
accepted procedures and technology has changed. Initially
members could only vote in person and now they are able to vote
either in-person or by mail. The language in the bill doesn't
take away that ability, he said.
CHAIR FRENCH suggested it might be a good idea to clarify that
electronic and by mail balloting would take place simultaneously
in the same election.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI commented that the proposed language
appears to make it possible for a co-op to opt to offer only the
less expensive electronic voting. He reiterated that it's a
concern for those people who don't have access to a computer.
1:46:02 PM
SENATOR EGAN commented that if Alaskans can file electronically
for a PFD then they can figure this out too. He said he is
pleased that both large and small co-ops are enthusiastic about
this possibility.
CHAIR FRENCH observed that support is quite strong, and
announced he would hold SB 260 to consider some clarifying
language.
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