Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
03/14/2022 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY
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Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
Confirmation Hearings | |
SB115 | |
SB161 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
+ | SB 115 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | SB 161 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
+= | SB 189 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 161-POLITICAL PARTY DEFINITION 2:18:45 PM CHAIR HOLLAND announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 161 "An Act relating to the definition of 'political party'; and providing for an effective date." CHAIR HOLLAND asked Senator Wielechowski to introduce the bill. 2:19:09 PM SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 161, stated that this issue was brought to him by a constituent active in the Libertarian Party. He paraphrased the sponsor statement. Senate Bill 161 simplifies the process for political parties gaining official recognition by recognizing any party with at least 5,000 registered voters. This bill would replace the current variable threshold with a standard that is simple and consistent. Currently, political parties gain or maintain official recognition by having registered voters equal to at least 3% of the total votes cast for governor, U.S. Senate, or U.S. House of Representatives in the last election depending on which office was on the ballot that year. This threshold can vary wildly from election to election and after the 2020 election it increased by 27% because of record voter turnout. With the passage of Ballot Measure 2, official party status will no longer be used to determine ballot access for candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, U.S. Congress, or Alaska State Legislature. The only offices for which officially recognized parties will have automatic ballot access are U.S. president and vice president. Parties with much fewer than 5,000 registered voters routinely secure ballot access by petition and SB 161 will save the Division of Elections the time and expense of reviewing petitions for parties that have already demonstrated a significant amount of support. Officially recognized parties have the right to purchase two pages in the Official Election Pamphlet, to nominate poll workers and election board members, and to have observers present at polling places and counting centers. In addition, there are different campaign finance limits and reporting requirements for recognized parties and unrecognized parties. SB 161 ensures that this status is determined by a simple, consistent, and easy to understand threshold. 2:19:46 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI referred to a chart in members' packets [titled, Registered Voters Needed for Political Parties to be Officially Recognized, 2010 - 2020], stating that the number was roughly 11,000 people. He noted that the figure had fluctuated depending on the number of people that voted at each election. For example, in 2010, the figure was under 8,000, it increased to nearly 10,000 in 2016, but since then it went back down. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated that this bill sets a clear amount of 5,000, which was selected by the number of Libertarian Party registered voters. The Alaska Supreme Court previously reviewed this in Vogler v. Miller, a 1983 case. The court ruled that the state threshold of 10 percent was too high and unconstitutional. He noted that most states had thresholds in the 2-5 percent range. He noted that he solicited comments from the Alaskan Independence Party, the Green Party, and the Constitution Party, and the Green Party supported lowering the threshold. He indicated that he was unaware of any opposition to the bill. 2:21:38 PM SENATOR MYERS stated that the legislature had not updated this statute in 40 years, but the state's population has increased since then by 40 percent. He asked whether the bill should be static or if it should tie to the census population figures. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI answered that he was neutral. He offered his view that the bill should use some specific, substantial figure. He stated his preference to use a firm figure, so parties will know what number they need to reach. He indicated that he would not object if the committee decided it was wiser to add a population adjuster. He reiterated that 5,000 seemed to be a reasonable figure since Alaska does not have big spikes in population. 2:23:14 PM SENATOR HUGHES offered one approach, that if 3 percent was roughly 10,000, the figure could be set at 1.5 percent so it would flow with the population. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI answered that he had no issue with 1.5 percent, but he would like to hear the public testimony. 2:23:58 PM DAVID DUNSMORE, Staff, Senator Bill Wielechowski, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, on behalf of the sponsor of SB 161, explained that one advantage of having a numerical threshold rather than a formula was that a formula would fluctuate since it was tied to the voter turnout in the previous election. He stated that presidential elections universally have a higher voter turnout than midterm elections. He referred to the chart, noting that the last election had a dramatic bump. However, somewhat paradoxically, the threshold to become a qualified party in a midterm election is actually higher than that in a presidential election. 2:25:13 PM CHAIR HOLLAND said he understood the preference for a firm figure. 2:25:40 PM SENATOR SHOWER stated that 5,000 was fine. He asked if the sponsor would reach out to other parties for comments. 2:26:24 PM MR. DUNSMORE pointed out that after the bill moved from the Senate State Affairs Committee, the Alaska Constitution Party contacted him with support to lower the threshold. 2:26:48 PM At ease 2:27:05 PM CHAIR HOLLAND reconvened the meeting. 2:27:15 PM SENATOR MYERS noticed that the sponsor statement indicated that this was being discussed due to ballot access changes and the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) rules. He asked for examples of differences in APOC reporting requirements for political parties. MR. DUNSMORE offered to research and report to the committee with more details. He highlighted that the two major differences are that political parties can create subdivisions within the party that are treated under the same limit. However, an individual group would need to form a completely separate group. For example, the Democratic and Republican Parties have separate House and Senate campaign accounts. Second, there is a different contribution limit for individuals giving to parties and parties contributing to candidates. 2:28:40 PM CHAIR HOLLAND opened public testimony on SB 161. 2:29:06 PM MIKE COONS, representing self, Palmer, Alaska, thanked Senator Wielechowski for bringing up the bill. He related that it reminded him that the Green Party and the Alaska Constitution Party believe there will be parties in 2023 if ranked-choice voting is repealed. He offered his view that the parties all believe in party affiliation and primaries to go along with them. He spoke in support of SB 161. He agreed that 5,000 was a good figure, especially since the smaller parties are requesting that threshold. 2:30:44 PM CHAIR HOLLAND found no further testimony and closed public testimony on SB 161. 2:31:14 PM CHAIR HOLLAND held SB 161 in committee.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
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David Ross Resume 2021_Redacted.pdf |
SJUD 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM |
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David Ross Application_Redacted.pdf |
SJUD 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM |
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Lonzo Henderson- Board Application_Redacted.pdf |
SJUD 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM |
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Lonzo Henderson Resume_Redacted.pdf |
SJUD 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM |
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Mae Marsh-Prax Board Application_Redacted.pdf |
SJUD 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM |
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Mae Marsh-Prax Hum.Rights Resume_Redacted.pdf |
SJUD 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM |
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SB115 Sponsor Statement 05.06.21.pdf |
SJUD 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM SSTA 2/17/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 115 |
SB115 Sectional Analysis 04.07.21.pdf |
SEDC 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM SJUD 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM SSTA 5/6/2021 3:30:00 PM |
SB 115 |
SB115 ver G.pdf |
SJUD 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 115 |
SB 161 Sponsor Statement 1.26.2022.pdf |
SEDC 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM SJUD 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM SSTA 2/17/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 161 |
SB 161 Sectional Analysis version A 1.26.2022.pdf |
SEDC 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM SJUD 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM SSTA 2/17/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 161 |
SB 161 Research Parties on Presidential Ballots 1.26.2022.pdf |
SEDC 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM SJUD 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM SSTA 2/17/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 161 |
SB 161 Research Graph 1.26.2022.pdf |
SEDC 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM SJUD 3/14/2022 1:30:00 PM SSTA 2/17/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 161 |