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 She added that if the absentee voter does not vote for four years or his/her address becomes outdated, then he/she would be removed from the list of voters who get their absentee ballots mailed automatically.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.