00                 SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 94(STA)                                                             
01 "An Act relating to qualifications of voters, requirements and procedures regarding                                     
02 independent candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States, voter                                     
03 registration, voter residence, precinct boundary and polling place designation and                                      
04 modification, political parties, voters unaffiliated with a political party, early voting,                              
05 absentee voting, ballot design, ballot counting, voting by mail, voting machines, vote                                  
06 tally systems, qualifications for elected office, initiative, referendum, recall, and                                   
07 definitions in the Alaska Election Code; and relating to incorporation elections."                                      
08 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
09    * Section 1.  AS 13.26.332 is amended to read:                                                                     
10            Sec. 13.26.332.  Statutory form power of attorney.  A person who wishes to                                 
11       designate another as attorney-in-fact or agent by a power of attorney may execute a                               
12       statutory power of attorney set out in substantially the following form:                                          
13                       GENERAL POWER OF ATTORNEY                                                                         
01                 THE POWERS GRANTED FROM THE PRINCIPAL TO THE                                                            
02            AGENT OR AGENTS IN THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT ARE                                                                
03            VERY BROAD. THEY MAY INCLUDE THE POWER TO                                                                    
04            DISPOSE, SELL, CONVEY, AND ENCUMBER YOUR REAL AND                                                            
05            PERSONAL PROPERTY, AND THE POWER TO MAKE YOUR                                                                
06            HEALTH    CARE   DECISIONS.  ACCORDINGLY,    THE                                                             
07            FOLLOWING DOCUMENT SHOULD ONLY BE USED AFTER                                                                 
08            CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.  IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS                                                            
09            ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT, YOU SHOULD SEEK COMPETENT                                                               
10            ADVICE.                                                                                                      
11                 YOU MAY REVOKE THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY AT                                                                
12            ANY TIME.                                                                                                    
13                 Pursuant to AS 13.26.338 - 13.26.353, I,      (Name of principal)                                     
14            , of      (Address of principal)     , do hereby appoint      (Name and                                  
15            address of agent or agents)     , my attorney(s)-in-fact to act as I have                                  
16            checked below in my name, place, and stead in any way which I myself                                         
17            could do, if I were personally present, with respect to the following                                        
18            matters, as each of them is defined in AS 13.26.344, to the full extent                                      
19            that I am permitted by law to act through an agent:                                                          
20                 THE AGENT OR AGENTS YOU HAVE APPOINTED WILL                                                             
21            HAVE ALL THE POWERS LISTED BELOW UNLESS YOU                                                                  
22                 DRAW A LINE THROUGH A CATEGORY; AND                                                                     
23                 INITIAL THE BOX OPPOSITE THAT CATEGORY                                                                  
24            (A)  real estate transactions                (  )                                                            
25            (B)  transactions involving tangible personal                                                                
26                 property, chattels, and goods           (  )                                                            
27            (C)  bonds, shares, and commodities transactions (  )                                                        
28            (D)  banking transactions                    (  )                                                            
29            (E)  business operating transactions         (  )                                                            
30            (F)  insurance transactions                  (  )                                                            
31            (G)  estate transactions                     (  )                                                            
01            (H)  gift transactions                       (  )                                                            
02            (I)  claims and litigation                   (  )                                                            
03            (J)  personal relationships and affairs      (  )                                                            
04            (K)  benefits from government programs and military service (  )                                             
05            (L)  records, reports, and statements        (  )                                                            
06            (M)  delegation                              (  )                                                            
07            (N)  voter registration and absentee ballot requests (  )                                              
08            (O)  all other matters, including those specified as follows: (  )                                       
09            _________________________________________________________                                                    
10            _________________________________________________________                                                    
11            _________________________________________________________                                                    
12                 IF YOU HAVE APPOINTED MORE THAN ONE AGENT,                                                              
13            CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:                                                                                  
14            (  )  Each agent may exercise the powers conferred separately, without                                       
15                 the consent of any other agent.                                                                         
16            (  )  All agents shall exercise the powers conferred jointly, with the                                       
17                 consent of all other agents.                                                                            
18                 TO INDICATE WHEN THIS DOCUMENT SHALL                                                                    
19            BECOME EFFECTIVE, CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:                                                                
20            (  )  This document shall become effective upon the date of my                                               
21                 signature.                                                                                              
22            (  )  This document shall become effective upon the date of my                                               
23                 disability and shall not otherwise be affected by my disability.                                        
24                 IF YOU HAVE INDICATED THAT THIS DOCUMENT                                                                
25            SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON THE DATE OF YOUR                                                                   
26            SIGNATURE, CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:                                                                       
27            (  )  This document shall not be affected by my subsequent disability.                                       
28            (  )  This document shall be revoked by my subsequent disability.                                            
29                 IF YOU HAVE INDICATED THAT THIS DOCUMENT                                                                
30            SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON THE DATE OF YOUR                                                                 
31            SIGNATURE AND WANT TO LIMIT THE TERM OF THIS                                                                 
01            DOCUMENT, COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:                                                                            
02                 This document shall only continue in effect for ________ (  )                                           
03            years from the date of my signature.                                                                         
04                 NOTICE OF REVOCATION OF THE POWERS                                                                      
05                      GRANTED IN THIS DOCUMENT                                                                           
06                 You may revoke one or more of the powers granted in this                                                
07            document. Unless otherwise provided in this document, you may                                                
08            revoke a specific power granted in this power of attorney by                                                 
09            completing a special power of attorney that includes the specific power                                      
10            in this document that you want to revoke. Unless otherwise provided in                                       
11            this document, you may revoke all the powers granted in this power of                                        
12            attorney by completing a subsequent power of attorney.                                                       
13                       NOTICE TO THIRD PARTIES                                                                           
14                 A third party who relies on the reasonable representations of an                                        
15            attorney-in-fact as to a matter relating to a power granted by a properly                                    
16            executed statutory power of attorney does not incur any liability to the                                     
17            principal or to the principal's heirs, assigns, or estate as a result of                                     
18            permitting the attorney-in-fact to exercise the authority granted by the                                     
19            power of attorney.  A third party who fails to honor a properly executed                                     
20            statutory form power of attorney may be liable to the principal, the                                         
21            attorney-in-fact, the principal's heirs, assigns, or estate for a civil                                      
22            penalty, plus damages, costs, and fees associated with the failure to                                        
23            comply with the statutory form power of attorney.  If the power of                                           
24            attorney is one which becomes effective upon the disability of the                                           
25            principal, the disability of the principal is established by an affidavit, as                                
26            required by law.                                                                                             
27                 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name                                                      
28            this ____ day of __________, ____.                                                                           
29                                _________________________________                                                        
30                                Signature of Principal                                                                   
31                 Acknowledged before me at ____________________________                                                  
01            ________________________ on ______________________________.                                                  
02            Signature of Officer or Notary                                                                               
03    * Sec. 2.  AS 13.26.344 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                             
04            (p)  In a statutory form power of attorney, the language conferring general                                  
05       authority with regard to voter registration and absentee ballot requests shall be                                 
06       construed to mean that the principal authorizes the agent to register the principal to                            
07       vote or request an absentee ballot for the principal.                                                             
08    * Sec. 3.  AS 15.05.020 is amended to read:                                                                        
09            Sec. 15.05.020.  Rules for determining residence of voter.  For the purpose                                
10       of determining residence for voting, the place of residence is governed by the                                    
11       following rules:                                                                                                  
12                 (1)  A person may not be considered to have gained a residence solely                                   
13       by reason of presence nor may a person lose it solely by reason of absence while in the                           
14       civil or military service of this state or of the United States or of absence because of                          
15       marriage to a person engaged in the civil or military service of this state or the United                         
16       States, while a student at an institution of learning, while in an institution or asylum at                       
17       public expense, while confined in public prison, while engaged in the navigation of                               
18       waters of this state or the United States or of the high seas, while residing upon an                             
19       Indian or military reservation, or while residing in the Alaska Pioneers' Home or the                             
20       Alaska Veterans' Home.                                                                                            
21                 (2)  The residence of a person is that place in which the person's                                      
22       habitation is fixed, and to which, whenever absent, the person has the intention to                               
23       return.  If a person resides in one place, but does business in another, the former is the                        
24       person's place of residence.  Temporary work sites [CONSTRUCTION CAMPS] do                                    
25       not constitute a dwelling place.                                                                                  
26                 (3)  A change of residence is made only by the act of removal joined                                    
27       with the intent to remain in another place.  There can only be one residence.                                     
28                 (4)  A person does not lose residence if the person leaves home and                                     
29       goes to another country, state, or place in this state for temporary purposes only and                            
30       with the intent of returning.                                                                                     
31                 (5)  A person does not gain residence in any place to which the person                                  
01       comes without the present intention to establish a permanent dwelling at that place.                              
02                 (6)  A person loses residence in this state if the person votes in another                              
03       state's election, either in person or by absentee ballot, and will not be eligible to vote                        
04       in this state until again qualifying under AS 15.05.010.                                                          
05                 (7)  The term of residence is computed by including the day on which                                    
06       the person's residence begins and excluding the day of election.                                                  
07                 (8)  The address of a voter as it appears on the [AN] official voter                                
08       registration record [CARD] is presumptive evidence of the person's voting residence.                          
09       This presumption is negated only if the voter notifies the director in writing of a                               
10       change of voting residence.                                                                                       
11    * Sec. 4.  AS 15.07.050 is amended to read:                                                                        
12            Sec. 15.07.050.  Manner of registration.  Registration may be made                                         
13                 (1)  in person before a registration official or through a voter                                        
14       registration agency;                                                                                              
15                 (2)  by another individual on behalf of the voter if the voter has                                  
16       executed a written general power of attorney or a written special power of                                    
17       attorney authorizing that other individual to register the voter;                                             
18                 (3)  by mail; or                                                                                    
19                 (4) [(3)]  by facsimile transmission, scanning, or another method of                            
20       electronic transmission that the director approves.                                                               
21    * Sec. 5.  AS 15.07.050 is amended by adding new subsections to read:                                              
22            (b)  Except as provided in (c) of this section, only the voter or the individual                             
23       authorized by the voter in a written power of attorney under (a) of this section may                              
24       mark the voter's choice of party affiliation on the voter registration application form.                          
25            (c)  A person may supply a voter registration application form with a                                        
26       political party or group affiliation indicated to a voter only if the voter is                                    
27       already registered as affiliated with the political party or group indicated.                                     
28    * Sec. 6.  AS 15.07.060(a) is amended to read:                                                                     
29            (a)  Each applicant who requests registration or reregistration shall supply the                             
30       following information:                                                                                            
31                 (1)  the applicant's name and sex;                                                                  
01                 (2)  if issued, the applicant's State of Alaska driver's license number or                              
02       State of Alaska identification card number, or the last four digits of the applicant's                            
03       social security number;                                                                                           
04                 (3)  the applicant's date of birth;                                                                 
05                 (4)  the applicant's Alaska residence address [AND OTHER                                            
06       NECESSARY INFORMATION ESTABLISHING RESIDENCE, INCLUDING THE                                                       
07       TERM OF RESIDENCE IN THE STATE AND IN THE DISTRICT, IF                                                            
08       REQUESTED];                                                                                                       
09                 (5)  a statement of whether the applicant has previously been                                       
10       registered to vote in another jurisdiction, and, if so, the jurisdiction and the address of                       
11       the previous registration;                                                                                        
12                 (6)  a declaration that the applicant [REGISTRANT] will be 18 years                                 
13       of age or older within 90 days after [OF] the date of registration;                                           
14                 (7)  a declaration that the applicant [REGISTRANT] is a citizen of the                              
15       United States;                                                                                                    
16                 (8)  the date of application;                                                                       
17                 (9)  the applicant's signature or mark;                                                             
18                 (10)  any former name under which the applicant was registered to vote                                  
19       in the state;                                                                                                     
20                 (11)  an attestation that the information provided by the applicant in (1)                              
21       - (10) of this subsection is true; and                                                                            
22                 (12)  a certification that the applicant understands that a false statement                             
23       on the application may make the applicant subject to prosecution for a misdemeanor                                
24       under this title or AS 11.                                                                                        
25    * Sec. 7.  AS 15.07.070(b) is amended to read:                                                                     
26            (b)  To register by mail or by facsimile, scanning, or other electronic                                  
27       transmission approved by the director under AS 15.07.050, the director, the area                                  
28       election supervisor, or a voter registration agency shall furnish, at no cost to the voter,                       
29       forms prepared by the director on which the registration information required under                               
30       AS 15.07.060 shall be inserted by the voter, by a person on behalf of the voter if                            
31       that person is designated to act on behalf of the voter in a power of attorney, or                            
01       by a person on behalf of the voter if the voter is physically incapacitated.  The director                        
02       may require proof of identification of the applicant as required by regulations adopted                           
03       by the director under AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act).  Upon receipt and                                  
04       approval of the completed registration forms, the director or the election supervisor                             
05       shall forward to the voter an acknowledgment, and the voter's name shall immediately                              
06       be placed on the master register.  If the registration is denied, the voter shall                                 
07       immediately be informed in writing that registration was denied and the reason for                                
08       denial.  When identifying information has been provided by the voter as required by                               
09       this chapter, the election supervisor shall forward to the voter a registration card.                             
10    * Sec. 8.  AS 15.07 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                    
11            Sec. 15.07.075.  Voters unaffiliated with a political party.  The director shall                           
12       consider a voter to be a voter registered as                                                                      
13                 (1)  "nonpartisan" and without a preference for a political party if the                                
14       voter registers as nonpartisan on a voter registration form;                                                      
15                 (2)  "undeclared" if the voter                                                                          
16                      (A)  registers as undeclared on a voter registration form;                                         
17                      (B)  fails to declare an affiliation with a political group or                                     
18            political party on a voter registration form; or                                                             
19                      (C)  declares an affiliation with an entity other than a political                                 
20            party or political group on a voter registration form; or                                                    
21                 (3)  "other" if the voter declares on a voter registration form an                                      
22       affiliation with a political group.                                                                               
23    * Sec. 9.  AS 15.07.127 is amended to read:                                                                        
24            Sec. 15.07.127.  Preparation of master register.  The director shall prepare                               
25       both a statewide list and a list by precinct of the names and addresses of all persons                            
26       whose names appear on the master register and their political party affiliation.                                  
27       Subject to the limitations of 15.07.195, any [ANY] person may obtain a copy of the                            
28       list, or a part of the list, or an electronic format containing both residence and mailing                        
29       addresses of voters, by applying to the director and paying to the state treasury a fee as                        
30       determined by the director.                                                                                       
31    * Sec. 10.  AS 15.10.090 is repealed and reenacted to read:                                                        
01            Sec. 15.10.090.  Notice of precinct boundary or polling place designation                                  
02       and modification.  The director shall give full public notice if a precinct is established                      
03       or abolished, if the boundaries of a precinct are designated, abolished, or modified, or                          
04       if the location of a polling place is changed.  Public notice must include                                        
05                 (1)  whenever possible, sending written notice of the change to each                                    
06       affected registered voter in the precinct;                                                                        
07                 (2)  providing notice of the change                                                                     
08                      (A)  by publication once in a local newspaper of general                                           
09            circulation in the precinct; or                                                                              
10                      (B)  if there is not a local newspaper of general circulation in                                   
11            the precinct, by posting written notice in three conspicuous places as close to                              
12            the precinct as possible; at least one posting location must be in the precinct;                             
13                 (3)  posting notice of the change on the Internet website of the division                               
14       of elections;                                                                                                     
15                 (4)  providing notification of the change to the appropriate municipal                                  
16       clerks, community councils, tribal groups, Native villages, and village regional                                  
17       corporations established under 43 U.S.C. 1606 (Alaska Native Claims Settlement                                    
18       Act); and                                                                                                         
19                 (5)  inclusion in the official election pamphlet.                                                       
20    * Sec. 11.  AS 15.13.400(4) is amended to read:                                                                    
21                 (4)  "contribution"                                                                                     
22                      (A)  means a purchase, payment, promise or obligation to pay,                                      
23            loan or loan guarantee, deposit or gift of money, goods, or services for which                               
24            charge is ordinarily made and that is made for the purpose of influencing the                                
25            nomination or election of a candidate, and in AS 15.13.010(b) for the purpose                                
26            of influencing a ballot proposition or question, including the payment by a                                  
27            person other than a candidate or political party, or compensation for the                                    
28            personal services of another person, that are rendered to the candidate or                                   
29            political party;                                                                                             
30                      (B)  does not include                                                                              
31                           (i)  services provided without compensation by                                                
01                 individuals volunteering a portion or all of their time on behalf of a                                  
02                 political party, candidate, or ballot proposition or question;                                          
03                           (ii)  ordinary hospitality in a home;                                                         
04                           (iii)  two or fewer mass mailings before each election by                                     
05                 each political party describing the party's slate of candidates for                                     
06                 election, which may include photographs, biographies, and information                                   
07                 about the party's candidates;                                                                           
08                           (iv)  the results of a poll limited to issues and not                                         
09                 mentioning any candidate, unless the poll was requested by or designed                                  
10                 primarily to benefit the candidate; or                                                                  
11                           (v)  any communication in the form of a newsletter from                                       
12                 a legislator to the legislator's constituents, except a communication                                   
13                 expressly advocating the election or defeat of a candidate or a                                         
14                 newsletter or material in a newsletter that is clearly only for the private                             
15                 benefit of a legislator or a legislative employee;                                                      
16                           (vi)  a purchase, payment, promise or obligation to                                       
17                 pay, loan or loan guarantee, deposit or gift of money, goods, or                                    
18                 services for which charge is ordinarily made and that is made for                                   
19                 the purpose of party building;                                                                      
20    * Sec. 12.  AS 15.13.400(6) is amended to read:                                                                    
21                 (6)  "expenditure"                                                                                      
22                      (A)  means a purchase or a transfer of money or anything of                                        
23            value, or promise or agreement to purchase or transfer money or anything of                                  
24            value, incurred or made for the purpose of                                                                   
25                           (i)  influencing the nomination or election of a candidate                                    
26                 or of any individual who files for nomination at a later date and                                       
27                 becomes a candidate;                                                                                    
28                           (ii)  use by a political party;                                                               
29                           (iii)  the payment by a person other than a candidate or                                      
30                 political party of compensation for the personal services of another                                    
31                 person that are rendered to a candidate or political party; or                                          
01                           (iv)  influencing the outcome of a ballot proposition or                                      
02                 question;                                                                                               
03                      (B)  does not include a candidate's filing fee; a purchase or a                                
04            transfer of money or anything of value, a promise or agreement to                                        
05            purchase or transfer money or anything of value, incurred or made for                                    
06            the purpose of party building; or the cost of preparing reports and statements                           
07            required by this chapter;                                                                                    
08                      (C)  includes an express communication and an electioneering                                       
09            communication, but does not include an issues communication;                                                 
10    * Sec. 13.  AS 15.13.400 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read:                                             
11                 (17)  "party building" means the activities of a political party to register                            
12       voters, organize precincts, districts, and regions, and otherwise engage in activities                            
13       that build, maintain, or strengthen a political party in this state, but does not include an                      
14       express communication or electioneering communication.                                                            
15    * Sec. 14.  AS 15.15.030(6) is repealed and reenacted to read:                                                     
16                 (6)  The names of the candidates for each office shall be set out in the                                
17       same order on ballots printed for use in each house district.  The director shall                                 
18       randomly determine the order of the names of the candidates for state representative                              
19       for each house district.  The director shall rotate the order of placement of the names                           
20       of candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, United States senator, United States                             
21       representative, and state senator on the ballot for each house district.                                          
22    * Sec. 15.  AS 15.15.030(7) is amended to read:                                                                    
23                 (7)  The general election ballot shall be designed with the names of                                    
24       candidates of each political party, and of any independent candidates qualified                               
25       under AS 15.30.026, for the office of President and Vice-President of the United                              
26       States placed in the same section on the ballot rather than the names of electors of                              
27       President and Vice-President.                                                                                     
28    * Sec. 16.  AS 15.15.350(a) is amended to read:                                                                    
29            (a)  The director may adopt regulations prescribing the manner in which the                                  
30       precinct ballot count is accomplished so as to ensure [ASSURE] accuracy in the count                          
31       and to expedite the process.  The election board shall account for all ballots by                                 
01       completing a ballot statement containing (1) the number of official ballots received;                             
02       (2) the number of official ballots voted; (3) the number of official ballots spoiled; (4)                         
03       the number of official ballots unused and either destroyed or returned for                                
04       destruction to the elections supervisor or the election supervisor's designee.  The                           
05       board shall count the number of questioned ballots and [SHALL] compare that                                       
06       number to the number of questioned voters in the register.  Discrepancies shall be                                
07       noted and the numbers included in the certificate prescribed by AS 15.15.370. The                                 
08       election board, in hand-count precincts, shall count the ballots in a manner that allows                          
09       watchers to see the ballots when opened and read.  A person handling the ballot after it                          
10       has been taken from the ballot box and before it is placed in the envelope for mailing                            
11       may not have a marking device in hand or remove a ballot from the immediate vicinity                              
12       of the polls.                                                                                                     
13    * Sec. 17.  AS 15.15.430 is amended to read:                                                                       
14            Sec. 15.15.430.  Scope of the review of ballot counting.  (a) The review of                                
15       ballot counting by the director shall include only [A REVIEW OF]                                                  
16                 (1)  a review of the precinct registers, tallies, and ballots cast; [AND]                           
17                 (2)  a review of absentee and questioned ballots as prescribed by law;                          
18       and                                                                                                           
19                 (3)  unless the ballot for the election district contains nothing but                               
20       uncontested offices, a hand count of ballots from one randomly selected precinct                              
21       in each election district that accounts for at least five percent of the ballots cast in                      
22       that district.                                                                                                
23            (b)  If, following the ballot review set out in (a) of this section, the director                            
24       finds there is a discrepancy of more than one percent between the results of the                              
25       hand count under (a)(3) of this section and the count certified by the election                               
26       board, the director shall conduct a hand count of the ballots from that district                              
27       [AN UNEXPLAINED DISCREPANCY IN THE BALLOT COUNT IN ANY                                                            
28       PRECINCT, THE DIRECTOR MAY COUNT THE BALLOTS FROM THAT                                                            
29       PRECINCT].                                                                                                        
30            (c)  If the director finds an unexplained discrepancy in the ballot count in                             
31       any precinct, the director may count the ballots from that precinct.                                          
01            (d)  The director shall certify in writing to the state ballot counting review                           
02       board and publish on the division's Internet website any changes resulting from a                         
03       [THE] count performed under (b) or (c) of this section.                                                       
04    * Sec. 18.  AS 15.20.030 is amended to read:                                                                       
05            Sec. 15.20.030.  Preparation of ballots, envelopes, and other material.  The                               
06       director shall provide ballots for use as absentee ballots in all districts. The director                         
07       shall provide a secrecy sleeve in which the voter shall initially place the marked ballot,                        
08       and shall provide an envelope with the prescribed voter's certificate on it, in which the                         
09       secrecy sleeve with ballot enclosed shall be placed. The director shall prescribe the                             
10       form of and prepare the voter's certificate, envelopes, and other material used in                                
11       absentee voting. The voter's certificate shall include a declaration, for use when                                
12       required, that the voter is a qualified voter in all respects, a blank for the voter's                            
13       signature, a certification that the affiant properly executed the marking of the ballot                           
14       and gave the voter's identity, blanks for the attesting official or witness                                   
15       [WITNESSES], and a place for recording the date the envelope was sealed and                                       
16       witnessed.  The envelope with the voter's certificate must include a notice that                              
17       false statements made by the voter or by the attesting official or witness on the                             
18       certificate are punishable by law.                                                                            
19    * Sec. 19.  AS 15.20.064 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                            
20            (d)  The director shall designate locations for early voting by June 1 of an                                 
21       election year.                                                                                                    
22    * Sec. 20.  AS 15.20.066(b) is amended to read:                                                                    
23            (b)  An absentee ballot that is completed and returned by the voter by                                       
24       electronic transmission must                                                                                      
25                 (1)  contain the following statement: "I understand that, by using                                  
26       electronic transmission to return my marked ballot, I am voluntarily waiving a portion                            
27       of my right to a secret ballot to the extent necessary to process my ballot, but expect                           
28       that my vote will be held as confidential as possible, [.] " followed by the voter's                          
29       signature and date of signature; and                                                                              
30                 (2)  be accompanied by a statement executed under oath as to the                                        
31       voter's identity; the statement under oath must be witnessed by                                                   
01                      (A)  a commissioned or noncommissioned officer of the armed                                        
02            forces of the United States;                                                                                 
03                      (B)  an official authorized by federal law or the law of the state                                 
04            in which the absentee ballot is cast to administer an oath; or                                               
05                      (C)  an individual [TWO UNITED STATES CITIZENS] who                                            
06            is [ARE] 18 years of age or older.                                                                       
07    * Sec. 21.  AS 15.20.081(a) is amended to read:                                                                    
08            (a)  A qualified voter may apply by mail or by facsimile, scanning, or other                             
09       electronic transmission to the director for an absentee ballot.  Another individual                           
10       may apply for an absentee ballot on behalf of a qualified voter if that individual                            
11       is designated to act on behalf of the voter in a written general power of attorney                            
12       or a written special power of attorney that authorizes the other individual to                                
13       apply for an absentee ballot on behalf of the voter.  The application must include                            
14       the address or, if the application requests delivery of an absentee ballot by electronic                          
15       transmission, the telephone electronic transmission number, to which the absentee                                 
16       ballot is to be returned, the applicant's full Alaska residence address, and the                                  
17       applicant's signature.  However, a person residing outside the United States and                                  
18       applying to vote absentee in federal elections in accordance with AS 15.05.011 need                               
19       not include an Alaska residence address in the application.  A person may supply to a                         
20       voter an absentee ballot application form with a political party or group                                     
21       affiliation indicated only if the voter is already registered as affiliated with the                          
22       political party or group indicated.  Only the voter or the individual designated by                           
23       the voter in a written power of attorney under this subsection may mark the                                   
24       voter's choice of primary ballot on an application.  A person supplying an                                    
25       absentee ballot application form may not design or mark the application in a                                  
26       manner that suggests choice of one ballot over another, except that ballot choices                            
27       may be listed on an application as authorized by the division.                                                
28    * Sec. 22.  AS 15.20.081(d) is amended to read:                                                                    
29            (d)  Upon receipt of an absentee ballot by mail, the voter, in the presence of a                             
30       notary public, commissioned officer of the armed forces including the National Guard,                             
31       district judge or magistrate, United States postal official, registration official, or other                      
01       person qualified to administer oaths, may proceed to mark the ballot in secret, to place                          
02       the ballot in the secrecy sleeve, to place the secrecy sleeve in the envelope provided,                           
03       and to sign the voter's certificate on the envelope in the presence of an official listed in                      
04       this subsection who shall sign as attesting official and shall date the signature.  If none                       
05       of the officials listed in this subsection is reasonably accessible, an absentee voter                            
06       shall sign the voter's certificate in the presence of an individual who is [TWO                               
07       PERSONS OVER THE AGE OF] 18 years of age or older, who shall sign as a                                    
08       witness [WITNESSES] and attest to the date on which the voter signed the certificate                          
09       in the individual's [THEIR] presence, and, in addition, the voter shall certify, as                       
10       prescribed in AS 09.63.020, under penalty of perjury, that the statements in the                              
11       voter's certification are true [PROVIDE THE CERTIFICATION PRESCRIBED IN                                       
12       AS 09.63.020].                                                                                                    
13    * Sec. 23.  AS 15.20.081(h) is amended to read:                                                                    
14            (h)  Except as provided in AS 15.20.480, an absentee ballot returned by mail                                 
15       from outside the United States or from an overseas voter qualifying under                                     
16       AS 15.05.011 [A MILITARY APO OR FPO ADDRESS] that has been marked and                                         
17       mailed not later than election day may not be counted unless the ballot is received by                            
18       the election supervisor not later than the close of business on the 15th day following                            
19       the election.                                                                                                     
20    * Sec. 24.  AS 15.20.450 is amended to read:                                                                       
21            Sec. 15.20.450.  Requirement of deposit.  The application must include a                                   
22       deposit in cash, by certified check, or by bond with a surety approved by the director.                           
23       The amount of the deposit is $1,000 [$300] for each precinct, $2,000 [$750] for each                      
24       house district, and $15,000 [$10,000] for the entire state.  If the recount includes an                       
25       office for which candidates received a tie vote, or the difference between the number                             
26       of votes cast was 20 or less or was less than .5 percent of the total number of votes                             
27       cast for the two candidates for the contested office, or a question or proposition for                            
28       which there was a tie vote on the issue, or the difference between the number of votes                            
29       cast in favor of or opposed to the issue was 20 or less or was less than .5 percent of the                        
30       total votes cast in favor of or opposed to the issue, the application need not include a                          
31       deposit, and the state shall bear the cost of the recount.  If, on the recount, a candidate                       
01       other than the candidate who received the original election certificate is declared                               
02       elected, or if the vote on recount is determined to be four percent or more in excess of                          
03       the vote reported by the state review for the candidate applying for the recount or in                            
04       favor of or opposed to the question or proposition as stated in the application, the                              
05       entire deposit shall be refunded.  If the entire deposit is not refunded, the director shall                      
06       refund any money remaining after the cost of the recount has been paid from the                                   
07       deposit.                                                                                                          
08    * Sec. 25.  AS 15.20.800(b) is amended to read.                                                                    
09            (b)  If the director conducts an election under (a) of this section by mail, the                             
10       director shall send a ballot for each election described in (a) of this section to each                           
11       person whose name appears on the official registration list prepared under                                        
12       AS 15.07.125 for that election.  The director shall send ballots by first class,                              
13       nonforwardable mail.  The ballot shall be sent to the address stated on the official                          
14       registration list unless                                                                                          
15                 (1)  the voter has notified the director or an election supervisor of a                             
16       different address to which the ballot should be sent; or                                                      
17                 (2)  the address on the official registration list has been identified as                           
18       being an undeliverable address [.  THE DIRECTOR SHALL SEND BALLOTS BY                                         
19       FIRST CLASS, NONFORWARDABLE MAIL].                                                                                
20    * Sec. 26.  AS 15.20 is amended by adding a new section to article 5 to read:                                      
21            Sec. 15.20.910.  Standards for voting machines and vote tally systems.  The                                
22       director may approve a voting machine or vote tally system for use in an election in                              
23       the state upon consideration of factors relevant to the administration of state elections,                        
24       including whether the Federal Election Commission has certified the voting machine                                
25       or vote tally system to be in compliance with the voting system standards approved by                             
26       the Federal Election Commission as required by 42 U.S.C. 15481(a)(5) (Help America                                
27       Vote Act of 2002).  The director may only approve a voting machine or vote tally                                  
28       system if the machine or system satisfies the requirements of AS 15.15.032(c).                                    
29    * Sec. 27.  AS 15.25.030(a) is amended to read:                                                                    
30            (a)  A member of a political party who seeks to become a candidate of the                                    
31       party in the primary election shall execute and file a declaration of candidacy. The                              
01       declaration shall be executed under oath before an officer authorized to take                                     
02       acknowledgments and must state in substance                                                                       
03                 (1)  the full name of the candidate;                                                                    
04                 (2)  the full mailing address of the candidate;                                                         
05                 (3)  if the candidacy is for the office of state senator or state                                       
06       representative, the house or senate district of which the candidate is a resident;                                
07                 (4)  the office for which the candidate seeks nomination;                                               
08                 (5)  the name of the political party of which the person is a candidate                                 
09       for nomination;                                                                                                   
10                 (6)  the full residence address of the candidate, and the date on which                                 
11       residency at that address began;                                                                                  
12                 (7)  the date of the primary election at which the candidate seeks                                      
13       nomination;                                                                                                       
14                 (8)  the length of residency in the state and in the district of the                                    
15       candidate;                                                                                                        
16                 (9)  that the candidate will meet the specific citizenship requirements of                              
17       the office for which the person is a candidate;                                                                   
18                 (10)  that the candidate is a qualified voter as required by law;                                       
19                 (11)  that the candidate will meet the specific age requirements of the                                 
20       office for which the person is a candidate; if the candidacy is for the office of state                       
21       representative, that the candidate will be at least 21 years of age on the first                              
22       scheduled day of the first regular session of the legislature convened after the                              
23       election; if the candidacy is for the office of state senator, that the candidate will                        
24       be at least 25 years of age on the first scheduled day of the first regular session of                        
25       the legislature convened after the election; if the candidacy is for the office of                            
26       governor or lieutenant governor, that the candidate will be at least 30 years of                              
27       age on the first Monday in December following election or, if the office is to be                             
28       filled by special election under AS 15.40.230 - 15.40.310, that the candidate will                            
29       be at least 30 years of age on the date of certification of the results of the special                        
30       election; or, for any other office, by the time that the candidate, if elected, is                            
31       sworn into office;                                                                                            
01                 (12)  that the candidate requests that the candidate's name be placed on                                
02       the primary election ballot;                                                                                      
03                 (13)  that the required fee accompanies the declaration;                                                
04                 (14)  that the person is not a candidate for any other office to be voted                               
05       on at the primary or general election and that the person is not a candidate for this                             
06       office under any other declaration of candidacy or nominating petition;                                           
07                 (15)  the manner in which the candidate wishes the candidate's name to                                  
08       appear on the ballot; and                                                                                         
09                 (16)  that the candidate is registered to vote as a member of the political                             
10       party whose nomination is being sought.                                                                           
11    * Sec. 28.  AS 15.25.060 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                            
12            (c)  If a voter is not voting in person and has requested an absentee ballot or                              
13       special needs ballot but has not indicated a choice of ballot, the director shall provide                         
14       the voter with the ballot listing the candidates of the political party or group with                             
15       which the voter is affiliated, as determined under (b) of this section.                                           
16    * Sec. 29.  AS 15.25.105(a) is amended to read:                                                                    
17            (a)  If a candidate does not appear on the primary election ballot or is not                                 
18       successful in advancing to the general election and wishes to be a candidate in the                               
19       general election, the candidate may file as a write-in candidate. Votes for a write-in                            
20       candidate may not be counted unless that candidate has filed a letter of intent with the                          
21       director stating                                                                                                  
22                 (1)  the full name of the candidate;                                                                    
23                 (2)  the full residence address of the candidate and the date on which                                  
24       residency at that address began;                                                                                  
25                 (3)  the full mailing address of the candidate;                                                         
26                 (4)  the name of the political party or political group of which the                                    
27       candidate is a member, if any;                                                                                    
28                 (5)  if the candidate is for the office of state senator or state                                       
29       representative, the house or senate district of which the candidate is a resident;                                
30                 (6)  the office that the candidate seeks;                                                               
31                 (7)  the date of the election at which the candidate seeks election;                                    
01                 (8)  the length of residency in the state and in the house district of the                              
02       candidate;                                                                                                        
03                 (9)  the name of the candidate as the candidate wishes it to be written                                 
04       on the ballot by the voter;                                                                                       
05                 (10)  that the candidate meets the specific citizenship requirements of                                 
06       the office for which the person is a candidate;                                                                   
07                 (11)  that the candidate will meet the specific age requirements of the                                 
08       office for which the person is a candidate; if the candidacy is for the office of state                       
09       representative, that the candidate will be at least 21 years of age on the first                              
10       scheduled day of the first regular session of the legislature convened after the                              
11       election; if the candidacy is for the office of state senator, that the candidate will                        
12       be at least 25 years of age on the first scheduled day of the first regular session of                        
13       the legislature convened after the election; if the candidacy is for the office of                            
14       governor or lieutenant governor, that the candidate will be at least 30 years of                              
15       age on the first Monday in December following election or, if the office is to be                             
16       filled by special election under AS 15.40.230 - 15.40.310, that the candidate will                            
17       be at least 30 years of age on the date of certification of the results of the special                        
18       election; or, for any other office, by the time that the candidate, if elected, is sworn                      
19       into office;                                                                                                      
20                 (12)  that the candidate is a qualified voter as required by law; and                                   
21                 (13)  that the candidate is not a candidate for any other office to be                                  
22       voted on at the general election and that the candidate is not a candidate for this office                        
23       under any other nominating petition or declaration of candidacy.                                                  
24    * Sec. 30.  AS 15.25.180(a) is amended to read:                                                                    
25            (a)  The petition must state in substance                                                                    
26                 (1)  the full name of the candidate;                                                                    
27                 (2)  the full residence address of the candidate and the date on which                                  
28       residency at that address began;                                                                                  
29                 (3)  the full mailing address of the candidate;                                                         
30                 (4)  the name of the political group, if any, supporting the candidate;                                 
31                 (5)  if the candidacy is for the office of state senator or state                                       
01       representative, the house or senate district of which the candidate is a resident;                                
02                 (6)  the office for which the candidate is nominated;                                                   
03                 (7)  the date of the election at which the candidate seeks election;                                    
04                 (8)  the length of residency in the state and in the district of the                                    
05       candidate;                                                                                                        
06                 (9)  that the subscribers are qualified voters of the state or house or                                 
07       senate district in which the candidate resides;                                                                   
08                 (10)  that the subscribers request that the candidate's name be placed on                               
09       the general election ballot;                                                                                      
10                 (11)  that the proposed candidate accepts the nomination and will serve                                 
11       if elected, with the statement signed by the proposed candidate;                                                  
12                 (12)  the name of the candidate as the candidate wishes it to appear on                                 
13       the ballot;                                                                                                       
14                 (13)  that the candidate is not a candidate for any other office to be                                  
15       voted on at the primary or general election and that the candidate is not a candidate for                         
16       this office under any other nominating petition or declaration of candidacy;                                      
17                 (14)  that the candidate meets the specific citizenship requirements of                                 
18       the office for which the person is a candidate;                                                                   
19                 (15)  that the candidate will meet the specific age requirements of the                                 
20       office for which the person is a candidate; if the candidacy is for the office of state                       
21       representative, that the candidate will be at least 21 years of age on the first                              
22       scheduled day of the first regular session of the legislature convened after the                              
23       election; if the candidacy is for the office of state senator, that the candidate will                        
24       be at least 25 years of age on the first scheduled day of the first regular session of                        
25       the legislature convened after the election; and if the candidacy is for the office of                        
26       governor or lieutenant governor, that the candidate will be at least 30 years of                              
27       age on the first Monday in December following election or, if the office is to be                             
28       filled by special election under AS 15.40.230 - 15.40.310, that the candidate will                            
29       be at least 30 years of age on the date of certification of the results of the special                        
30       election; or, for any other office, by the time that the candidate, if elected, is sworn                      
31       into office;                                                                                                      
01                 (16)  that the candidate is a qualified voter; and                                                      
02                 (17)  if the candidacy is for the office of the governor, the name of the                               
03       candidate for lieutenant governor running jointly with the candidate for governor.                                
04    * Sec. 31.  AS 15.30 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                   
05            Sec. 15.30.026.  Qualifications for independent candidates for President of                                
06       the United States; selection of candidate for Vice-President; selection of electors.                            
07       (a)  A person who desires to be an independent candidate for President of the United                              
08       States must file with the director not earlier than January 1 of a presidential election                          
09       year and not later than the 90th day before a presidential general election a petition                            
10       signed by qualified voters of the state equal in number to at least one percent of the                            
11       number of voters who cast ballots in an election under this chapter for President of the                          
12       United States at the last presidential general election.  The petition must state that the                        
13       signers desire the named candidate for President of the United States to appear on the                            
14       ballot as an independent candidate for president at the next succeeding presidential                              
15       general election.                                                                                                 
16            (b)  In order to appear on the ballot, a candidate who has qualified for ballot                            
17       status under (a) of this section shall certify the following information to the director on                       
18       or before September 1 of the year of the presidential general election:                                           
19                 (1)  the names of the electors for the independent candidate for                                        
20       President of the United States, equal to the number of senators and representatives to                            
21       which the state is entitled in Congress;                                                                          
22                 (2)  the name of a candidate for Vice-President, selected by the                                        
23       independent candidate; and                                                                                        
24                 (3)  the name, Alaska mailing address, and signature of the candidate's                                 
25       state campaign chair, who must be an Alaska resident.                                                             
26    * Sec. 32.  AS 15.30.050 is amended to read:                                                                       
27            Sec. 15.30.050.  Interpretation of votes cast for candidates for President                                 
28       and Vice-President [VICE PRESIDENT].  In voting for presidential electors, a vote                             
29       marked for the candidates for President and Vice-President [VICE PRESIDENT] is                                
30       considered and counted as a vote for the presidential electors of the party or for the                        
31       presidential electors named under AS 15.30.026, as appropriate.                                               
01    * Sec. 33.  AS 15.30.090 is amended to read:                                                                       
02            Sec. 15.30.090.  Duties of electors.  After any vacancies have been filled, the                            
03       electors shall proceed to cast their votes for the candidates for the office of President                         
04       and Vice-President [VICE PRESIDENT] of the party that [WHICH] selected them as                            
05       candidates for electors, or for the candidates for the office of President and Vice-                          
06       President under AS 15.30.026 if the electors were named under AS 15.30.026, and                               
07       shall perform the duties of electors as required by the constitution and laws of the                              
08       United States.  The director shall provide administrative services and the Department                             
09       of Law shall provide legal services necessary for the electors to perform their duties.                           
10    * Sec. 34.  AS 15.45.030 is amended to read:                                                                       
11            Sec. 15.45.030.  Form of application.  The application must [SHALL]                                    
12       include the                                                                                                   
13                 (1)  [THE] proposed bill [TO BE INITIATED],                                                             
14                 (2)  printed name, the signature, the address, and a numerical                                      
15       identifier of not fewer than 100 qualified voters who will serve as sponsors; each                            
16       signature page must include a statement that the sponsors are qualified voters who                            
17       signed the application with the proposed bill attached; and  [,]                                              
18                 (3)  [THE] designation of an initiative committee consisting of three of                        
19       the sponsors who subscribed to the application and [SHALL] represent all sponsors                         
20       and subscribers in matters relating to the initiative; the designation must include the                       
21       name, mailing address, and signature of each committee member  [, AND (4)                                     
22       THE SIGNATURES AND ADDRESSES OF NOT LESS THAN 100 QUALIFIED                                                       
23       VOTERS].                                                                                                          
24    * Sec. 35.  AS 15.45.060 is amended to read:                                                                       
25            Sec. 15.45.060.  Designation of sponsors.  The qualified voters who subscribe                              
26       to the application in support of the proposed bill are designated as sponsors.  The                           
27       initiative committee may designate additional sponsors by giving written notice to the                            
28       lieutenant governor of the names, [AND] addresses, and numerical identifiers of                           
29       those so designated.                                                                                              
30    * Sec. 36.  AS 15.45.090 is repealed and reenacted to read:                                                        
31            Sec. 15.45.090.  Preparation of petition.  (a)  If the application is certified,                           
01       the lieutenant governor shall prepare a sufficient number of sequentially numbered                                
02       petitions to allow full circulation throughout the state.  Each petition must contain                             
03                 (1)  a copy of the proposed bill if the number of words included in both                                
04       the formal and substantive provisions of the bill is 500 or less;                                                 
05                 (2)  an impartial summary of the subject matter of the bill;                                            
06                 (3)  a statement of minimum costs to the state associated with                                          
07       certification of the initiative application and review of the initiative petition, excluding                      
08       legal costs to the state and the costs to the state of any challenge to the validity of the                       
09       petition;                                                                                                         
10                 (4)  an estimate of the cost to the state of implementing the proposed                                  
11       law;                                                                                                              
12                 (5)  the statement of warning prescribed in AS 15.45.100;                                               
13                 (6)  sufficient space for the printed name, a numerical identifier, the                                 
14       signature, the date of signature, and the address of each person signing the petition;                            
15       and                                                                                                               
16                 (7)  other specifications prescribed by the lieutenant governor to ensure                               
17       proper handling and control.                                                                                      
18            (b)  Upon request of the initiative committee, the lieutenant governor shall                                 
19       report to the committee the number of persons who voted in the preceding general                                  
20       election.                                                                                                         
21    * Sec. 37.  AS 15.45 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                   
22            Sec. 15.45.105.  Qualifications of circulator.  To circulate a petition booklet,                           
23       a person shall be                                                                                                 
24                 (1)  a citizen of the United States;                                                                    
25                 (2)  18 years of age or older; and                                                                      
26                 (3)  a resident of the state as determined under AS 15.05.020.                                          
27    * Sec. 38.  AS 15.45.120 is amended to read:                                                                       
28            Sec. 15.45.120.  Manner of signing and withdrawing name from petition.                                     
29       Any qualified voter may subscribe to the petition by printing the voter's name, a                             
30       numerical identifier, and an address, by signing the voter's name, and by dating                          
31       the signature [AND ADDRESS].  A person who has signed the initiative petition                                 
01       may withdraw the person's name only by giving written notice to the lieutenant                                    
02       governor before the date the petition is filed.                                                                   
03    * Sec. 39.  AS 15.45.130 is repealed and reenacted to read:                                                        
04            Sec. 15.45.130.  Certification of circulator.  Before being filed, each petition                           
05       shall be certified by an affidavit by the person who personally circulated the petition.                          
06       In determining the sufficiency of the petition, the lieutenant governor may not count                             
07       subscriptions on petitions not properly certified at the time of filing or corrected before                       
08       the subscriptions are counted.  The affidavit must state in substance                                             
09                 (1)  that the person signing the affidavit meets the residency, age, and                                
10       citizenship qualifications for circulating a petition under AS 15.45.105;                                         
11                 (2)  that the person is the only circulator of that petition;                                           
12                 (3)  that the signatures were made in the circulator's actual presence;                                 
13                 (4)  that to the best of the circulator's knowledge, the signatures are the                             
14       signatures of the persons whose names they purport to be;                                                         
15                 (5)  that, to the best of the circulator's knowledge, the signatures are of                             
16       persons who were qualified voters on the date of signature;                                                       
17                 (6)  that the circulator has not entered into an agreement with a person                                
18       or organization in violation of AS 15.45.110(c);                                                                  
19                 (7)  that the circulator has not violated AS 15.45.110(d) with respect to                               
20       that petition; and                                                                                                
21                 (8)  whether the circulator has received payment or agreed to receive                                   
22       payment for the collection of signatures on the petition, and, if so, the name of each                            
23       person or organization that has paid or agreed to pay the circulator for collection of                            
24       signatures on the petition.                                                                                       
25    * Sec. 40.  AS 15.45.200 is amended to read:                                                                       
26            Sec. 15.45.200.  Display of proposed law.  The director shall provide each                                 
27       election board with at least five [10] copies of the proposed law being initiated, and                        
28       the election board shall display at least one copy [THREE COPIES] of the proposed                             
29       law in a conspicuous place in the room where the election is held.                                                
30    * Sec. 41.  AS 15.45.270 is amended to read:                                                                       
31            Sec. 15.45.270.  Form of application.  The application must [SHALL]                                    
01       include                                                                                                           
02                 (1)  the act to be referred;                                                                            
03                 (2)  a statement of approval or rejection;                                                          
04                 (3)  the printed name, the signature, the address, and a numerical                                  
05       identifier of not fewer than 100 qualified voters who will serve as sponsors; each                            
06       signature page must include a statement that the sponsors are qualified voters who                            
07       signed the application with the act to be referred and the statement of approval or                           
08       rejection [PROPOSED BILL] attached; and                                                                   
09                 (4) [(3)]  the designation of a referendum committee consisting of three                        
10       of the sponsors who subscribed to the application and [SHALL] represent all                               
11       sponsors and subscribers in matters relating to the referendum; the designation must                          
12       include the name, mailing address, and signature of each committee member                                     
13       [AND                                                                                                              
14                 (4)  THE SIGNATURES AND ADDRESSES OF NOT FEWER                                                          
15       THAN 100 QUALIFIED VOTERS].                                                                                       
16    * Sec. 42.  AS 15.45.290 is amended to read:                                                                       
17            Sec. 15.45.290.  Designation of sponsors.  The qualified voters who subscribe                              
18       to the application in support of the referendum are designated as sponsors.  The                              
19       referendum committee may designate additional sponsors by giving notice to the                                    
20       lieutenant governor of the names, [AND] addresses, and numerical identifiers of                           
21       those so designated.                                                                                              
22    * Sec. 43.  AS 15.45.320 is repealed and reenacted to read:                                                        
23            Sec. 15.45.320.  Preparation of petition.  (a)  The lieutenant governor shall                              
24       prepare a sufficient number of sequentially numbered petitions to allow full circulation                          
25       throughout the state.  Each petition must contain                                                                 
26                 (1)  a copy of the act to be referred if the number of words included in                                
27       both the formal and substantive provisions of the act is 500 or less;                                             
28                 (2)  the statement of approval or rejection;                                                            
29                 (3)  a statement of minimum costs to the state associated with                                          
30       certification of the referendum application and review of the referendum petition,                                
31       excluding legal costs to the state and the costs to the state of any challenge to the                             
01       validity of the petition;                                                                                         
02                 (4)  an estimate of the cost to the state of voter approval or rejection of                             
03       the act;                                                                                                          
04                 (5)  an impartial summary of the subject matter of the act;                                             
05                 (6)  the statement of warning prescribed in AS 15.45.330;                                               
06                 (7)  sufficient space for the printed name, a numerical identifier, the                                 
07       signature, the date of signature, and the address of each person signing the petition;                            
08       and                                                                                                               
09                 (8)  other specifications prescribed by the lieutenant governor to ensure                               
10       proper handling and control.                                                                                      
11            (b)  Upon request of the referendum committee, the lieutenant governor shall                                 
12       report to the committee the number of persons who voted in the preceding general                                  
13       election.                                                                                                         
14    * Sec. 44.  AS 15.45 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                   
15            Sec. 15.45.335.  Qualifications of circulator.  To circulate a petition booklet,                           
16       a person shall be                                                                                                 
17                 (1)  a citizen of the United States;                                                                    
18                 (2)  18 years of age or older; and                                                                      
19                 (3)  a resident of the state as determined under AS 15.05.020.                                          
20    * Sec. 45.  AS 15.45.340 is amended by adding new subsections to read:                                             
21            (b)  A circulator may not receive payment or agree to receive payment that is                                
22       greater than $1 a signature, and a person or an organization may not pay or agree to                              
23       pay an amount that is greater than $1 a signature, for the collection of signatures on a                          
24       petition.                                                                                                         
25            (c)  A person or organization may not knowingly pay, offer to pay, or cause to                               
26       be paid money or other valuable thing to a person to sign or refrain from signing a                               
27       petition.                                                                                                         
28            (d)  A person or organization that violates (b) or (c) of this section is guilty of a                        
29       class B misdemeanor.                                                                                              
30            (e)  In this section,                                                                                        
31                 (1)  "organization" has the meaning given in AS 11.81.900;                                              
01                 (2)  "other valuable thing" has the meaning given in AS 15.56.030;                                      
02                 (3)  "person" has the meaning given in AS 11.81.900.                                                    
03    * Sec. 46.  AS 15.45.350 is amended to read:                                                                       
04            Sec. 15.45.350.  Manner of signing and withdrawing name from petition.                                     
05       Any qualified voter may subscribe to the petition by printing the voter's name, a                             
06       numerical identifier, and an address, by signing the voter's name, and by dating                          
07       the signature [AND ADDRESS].  A person who has signed the referendum petition                                 
08       may withdraw the person's name only by giving written notice to the lieutenant                                    
09       governor before the date the petition is filed.                                                                   
10    * Sec. 47.  AS 15.45.360 is repealed and reenacted to read:                                                        
11            Sec. 15.45.360.  Certification of circulator.  Before being filed, each petition                           
12       shall be certified by an affidavit by the person who personally circulated the petition.                          
13       In determining the sufficiency of the petition, the lieutenant governor may not count                             
14       subscriptions on petitions not properly certified at the time of filing or corrected before                       
15       the subscriptions are counted.  The affidavit must state in substance                                             
16                 (1)  that the person signing the affidavit meets the residency, age, and                                
17       citizenship qualifications for circulating a petition under AS 15.45.335;                                         
18                 (2)  that the person is the only circulator of that petition;                                           
19                 (3)  that the signatures were made in the circulator's actual presence;                                 
20                 (4)  that to the best of the circulator's knowledge, the signatures are the                             
21       signatures of the persons whose names they purport to be;                                                         
22                 (5)  that, to the best of the circulators knowledge, the signatures are of                              
23       persons who were qualified voters on the date of signature;                                                       
24                 (6)  that the circulator has not entered into an agreement with a person                                
25       or organization in violation of AS 15.45.340(b);                                                                  
26                 (7)  that the circulator has not violated AS 15.45.340(c) with respect to                               
27       that petition; and                                                                                                
28                 (8)  whether the circulator has received payment or agreed to receive                                   
29       payment for the collection of signatures on the petition, and, if so, the name of each                            
30       person or organization that has paid or agreed to pay the circulator for collection of                            
31       signatures on the petition.                                                                                       
01    * Sec. 48.  AS 15.45.430 is amended to read:                                                                       
02            Sec. 15.45.430.  Display of act being referred.  The director shall provide                                
03       each election board with at least five [10] copies of the act being referred, and the                         
04       election board shall display at least one copy [THREE COPIES] of the act in a                                 
05       conspicuous place in the room where the election is held.                                                         
06    * Sec. 49.  AS 15.45.500 is amended to read:                                                                       
07            Sec. 15.45.500.  Form of application.  The application must include                                        
08                 (1)  the name and office of the person to be recalled;                                                  
09                 (2)  the grounds for recall described in particular in not more than 200                                
10       words;                                                                                                            
11                 (3)  the printed name, the signature, the address, and a numerical                                  
12       identifier of qualified voters equal in number to 10 percent of those who voted in                            
13       the preceding general election in the state or in the senate or house district of the                         
14       official sought to be recalled, 100 of whom will serve as sponsors; each signature                            
15       page must include a statement that the [SPONSORS ARE] qualified voters [WHO]                                  
16       signed the application with the name and office of the person to be recalled and the                          
17       statement of grounds for recall attached; and                                                                 
18                 (4)  the designation of a recall committee consisting of three of the                           
19       qualified voters [SPONSORS] who subscribed to the application and shall                                   
20       represent all sponsors and subscribers in matters relating to the recall; the designation                     
21       must include the name, mailing address, and signature of each committee                                       
22       member                                                                                                        
23                 [(5)  THE SIGNATURES OF AT LEAST 100 QUALIFIED VOTERS                                                   
24       WHO SUBSCRIBE TO THE APPLICATION AS SPONSORS FOR PURPOSES OF                                                      
25       CIRCULATION; AND                                                                                                  
26                 (6)  THE SIGNATURES AND ADDRESSES OF QUALIFIED                                                          
27       VOTERS EQUAL IN NUMBER TO 10 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO VOTED IN                                                        
28       THE PRECEDING GENERAL ELECTION IN THE STATE OR IN THE SENATE                                                      
29       OR HOUSE DISTRICT OF THE OFFICIAL SOUGHT TO BE RECALLED].                                                         
30    * Sec. 50.  AS 15.45 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                   
31            Sec. 15.45.515.  Designation of sponsors.  The qualified voters who subscribe                              
01       to the application in support of the recall are designated as sponsors.  The recall                               
02       committee may designate additional sponsors by giving notice to the lieutenant                                    
03       governor of the names, addresses, and numerical identifiers of those so designated.                               
04    * Sec. 51.  AS 15.45.560 is repealed and reenacted to read:                                                        
05            Sec. 15.45.560.  Preparation of petition.  (a)  The director shall prepare a                               
06       sufficient number of sequentially numbered petitions to allow full circulation                                    
07       throughout the state or throughout the senate or house district of the official sought to                         
08       be recalled.  Each petition must contain                                                                          
09                 (1)  the name and office of the person to be recalled;                                                  
10                 (2)  the statement of the grounds for recall included in the application;                               
11                 (3)  a statement of minimum costs to the state associated with                                          
12       certification of the recall application, review of the recall petition, and conduct of a                          
13       special election, excluding legal costs to the state and the costs to the state of any                            
14       challenge to the validity of the petition;                                                                        
15                 (4)  an estimate of the cost to the state of recalling the official;                                    
16                 (5)  the statement of warning required in AS 15.45.570;                                                 
17                 (6)  sufficient space for the printed name, a numerical identifier, the                                 
18       signature, the date of signature, and the address of each person signing the petition;                            
19       and                                                                                                               
20                 (7)  other specifications prescribed by the director to ensure proper                                   
21       handling and control.                                                                                             
22            (b)  Upon request of the recall committee, the lieutenant governor shall report                              
23       to the committee the number of persons who voted in the preceding general election,                               
24       in the state or in the district of the official sought to be recalled by the recall                               
25       committee.                                                                                                        
26    * Sec. 52.  AS 15.45.570 is amended to read:                                                                       
27            Sec. 15.45.570.  Statement of warning.  Each petition must [AND                                        
28       DUPLICATE COPY SHALL] include a statement of warning that a person who signs                                      
29       a name other than the person's own to the petition, or who knowingly signs more than                              
30       once for the same proposition at one election, or who signs the petition while                                    
31       knowingly not a qualified voter, is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.                                              
01    * Sec. 53.  AS 15.45 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                   
02            Sec. 15.45.575.  Qualifications of circulator.  To circulate a petition booklet,                           
03       a person shall be                                                                                                 
04                 (1)  a citizen of the United States;                                                                    
05                 (2)  18 years of age or older; and                                                                      
06                 (3)  a resident of the state as determined under AS 15.05.020.                                          
07    * Sec. 54.  AS 15.45.580 is amended by adding new subsections to read:                                             
08            (b)  A circulator may not receive payment or agree to receive payment that is                                
09       greater than $1 a signature, and a person or an organization may not pay or agree to                              
10       pay an amount that is greater than $1 a signature, for the collection of signatures on a                          
11       petition.                                                                                                         
12            (c)  A person or organization may not knowingly pay, offer to pay, or cause to                               
13       be paid money or other valuable thing to a person to sign or refrain from signing a                               
14       petition.                                                                                                         
15            (d)  A person or organization that violates (b) or (c) of this section is guilty of a                        
16       class B misdemeanor.                                                                                              
17            (e)  In this section,                                                                                        
18                 (1)  "organization" has the meaning given in AS 11.81.900;                                              
19                 (2)  "other valuable thing" has the meaning given in AS 15.56.030;                                      
20                 (3)  "person" has the meaning given in AS 11.81.900.                                                    
21    * Sec. 55.  AS 15.45.590 is amended to read:                                                                       
22            Sec. 15.45.590.  Manner of signing and withdrawing name from petition.                                     
23       Any qualified voter may subscribe to the petition by printing the voter's name, a                             
24       numerical identifier, and an address, by signing the voter's name, and by dating                          
25       the signature [AND ADDRESS].  A person who has signed the petition may                                        
26       withdraw the person's name only by giving written notice to the director before the                               
27       date the petition is filed.                                                                                       
28    * Sec. 56.  AS 15.45.600 is repealed and reenacted to read:                                                        
29            Sec. 15.45.600.  Certification of circulator.  Before being filed, each petition                           
30       shall be certified by an affidavit by the person who personally circulated the petition.                          
31       In determining the sufficiency of the petition, the lieutenant governor may not count                             
01       subscriptions on petitions not properly certified at the time of filing or corrected before                       
02       the subscriptions are counted.  The affidavit must state in substance                                             
03                 (1)  that the person signing the affidavit meets the residency, age, and                                
04       citizenship qualifications for circulating a petition under AS 15.45.575;                                         
05                 (2)  that the person is the only circulator of that petition;                                           
06                 (3)  that the signatures were made in the circulator's actual presence;                                 
07                 (4)  that to the best of the circulator's knowledge, the signatures are the                             
08       signatures of the persons whose names they purport to be;                                                         
09                 (5)  that, to the best of the circulator's knowledge, the signatures are of                             
10       persons who were qualified voters on the date of signature;                                                       
11                 (6)  that the circulator has not entered into an agreement with a person                                
12       or organization in violation of AS 15.45.580(b);                                                                  
13                 (7)  that the circulator has not violated AS 15.45.580(c) with respect to                               
14       that petition; and                                                                                                
15                 (8)  whether the circulator has received payment or agreed to receive                                   
16       payment for the collection of signatures on the petition, and, if so, the name of each                            
17       person or organization that has paid or agreed to pay the circulator for collection of                            
18       signatures on the petition.                                                                                       
19    * Sec. 57.  AS 15.45.680 is amended to read:                                                                       
20            Sec. 15.45.680.  Display of grounds [BASES] for and against recall.  The                                 
21       director shall provide each election board in the state or in the senate or house district                        
22       of the person subject to recall with at least five [10] copies of the statement of the                        
23       grounds for recall included in the application and at least five [10] copies of the                           
24       statement of not more than 200 words made by the official subject to recall in                                    
25       justification of the official's conduct in office.  The person subject to recall may                              
26       provide the director with the statement within 10 days after the date the director gave                           
27       notification that the petition was properly filed.  The election board shall post at least                    
28       one copy [THREE COPIES] of the statements for and against recall in a [THREE]                             
29       conspicuous place [PLACES] in the polling place.                                                              
30    * Sec. 58.  AS 15.58.020 is amended to read:                                                                       
31            Sec. 15.58.020.  Contents of pamphlet.  Each election pamphlet must contain                                
01                 (1)  photographs and campaign statements submitted by eligible                                          
02       candidates for elective office in the region;                                                                     
03                 (2)  information and recommendations filed under AS 15.58.050 on                                        
04       judicial officers subject to a retention election in the region;                                                  
05                 (3)  a map of the house district or districts of the region;                                            
06                 (4)  sample ballots for house districts of the region;                                                  
07                 (5)  an absentee ballot application;                                                                    
08                 (6)  for each ballot proposition submitted to the voters by initiative or                               
09       referendum petition or by the legislature,                                                                        
10                      (A)  the full text of the proposition specifying constitutional or                                 
11            statutory provisions proposed to be affected;                                                                
12                      (B)  the ballot title and the summary of the proposition prepared                                  
13            by the director or by the lieutenant governor;                                                               
14                      (C)  a statement of the costs to the state of implementing the law                                 
15            proposed in an initiative, or of voter approval or rejection of the act that is the                          
16            subject of a referendum;                                                                                     
17                      (D)  a neutral summary of the proposition prepared by the                                          
18            Legislative Affairs Agency;                                                                                  
19                      (E)  statements submitted that advocate voter approval or                                          
20            rejection of the proposition not to exceed 500 words;                                                        
21                 (7)  for each bond question, a statement of the scope of each project as                                
22       it appears in the bond authorization;                                                                             
23                 (8)  a maximum of two pages of material submitted by each political                                     
24       party;                                                                                                            
25                 (9)  additional information on voting procedures that the lieutenant                                    
26       governor considers necessary;                                                                                     
27                 (10)  for the question whether a constitutional convention shall be                                     
28       called,                                                                                                           
29                      (A)  a full statement of the question placed on the ballot;                                        
30                      (B)  statements not to exceed 500 words that advocate voter                                        
31            approval or rejection of the question;                                                                       
01                 (11)  under AS 37.13.170, the Alaska permanent fund annual income                                       
02       statement and balance sheet for the two fiscal years preceding the publication of the                             
03       election pamphlet;                                                                                            
04                 (12)  under AS 15.10.090, notice of                                                                 
05                      (A)  the establishment or abolition of a precinct;                                             
06                      (B)  the designation, abolition, or modification of precinct                                   
07            boundaries; and                                                                                          
08                      (C)  a change in the location of a polling place.                                              
09    * Sec. 59.  AS 15.60 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                   
10            Sec. 15.60.008.  Recognized political party status.  (a)  A political group that                           
11       the director has not recognized as a political party may obtain recognized political                              
12       party status if, on or before May 31 of the election year for which the political group                           
13       seeks recognition, the political group                                                                            
14                 (1)  files an application with the director;                                                            
15                 (2)  submits bylaws to the director and the United States Department of                                 
16       Justice as required of political parties in AS 15.25.014; and                                                     
17                 (3)  meets the definition of a political party in AS 15.60.010.                                         
18            (b)  The director shall verify that each political group seeking recognized                                  
19       political party status under (a) of this section and each recognized political party meets                        
20       the definition of a political party in AS 15.60.010.                                                              
21            (c)  The director shall perform a verification described in (b) of this section at                           
22       least once a month after the date of certification of the preceding general election,                             
23       except that the director may suspend the monthly verifications on and after June 1 and                            
24       before November 30 of a general election year.  For purposes of (b) of this section, the                          
25       director shall verify that the voters who have submitted registration forms to the                                
26       division of elections are qualified under AS 15.05.010 and have declared affiliation                              
27       with the political group or recognized political party for which the verification is                              
28       performed.                                                                                                        
29            (d)  Within 10 days after a verification under (c) of this section, the director                             
30       shall provide to a political group seeking recognized political party status under (a) of                         
31       this section written notification when the political group has obtained recognized                                
01       political party status.                                                                                           
02            (e)  The director may not withdraw recognized political party status from a                                  
03       political group that no longer qualifies as a political party until after the first                               
04       verification after a general election at which a governor was elected.  The director                              
05       shall notify the political group in writing of the withdrawal of recognition.                                     
06    * Sec. 60.  AS 15.60.010 is amended by adding new paragraphs to read:                                              
07                 (40)  "numerical identifier" means a voter's date of birth, the last four                               
08       digits of a voter's social security number, a voter's Alaska driver's license number, or a                        
09       voter's Alaska identification card number or voter identification number;                                         
10                 (41)  "reregistration" means the submission of a registration form by a                                 
11       voter whose registration was inactivated on the master register maintained under                                  
12       AS 15.07 and the director's reactivation of that registration in accordance with that                             
13       chapter; in this paragraph, "a voter whose registration was inactivated" does not                                 
14       include a voter whose registration was inactivated under AS 15.07.130 and whose                                   
15       ballot may be counted under AS 15.15.198.                                                                         
16    * Sec. 61.  AS 29.05.110(b) is amended to read:                                                                    
17            (b)  A qualified voter who is registered to vote [HAS BEEN A RESIDENT                                
18       OF THE AREA] within the proposed municipality at least [FOR] 30 days before the                               
19       date of the election order may vote.                                                                              
20    * Sec. 62.  AS 29.05.110(c) is amended to read:                                                                    
21            (c)  Areawide borough powers included in an incorporation petition are                                       
22       considered to be part of the incorporation question.  In an election for the                                      
23       incorporation of a second class borough, each nonareawide power to be exercised is                                
24       placed separately on the ballot.  Adoption of a nonareawide power requires a majority                             
25       of the votes cast on the question, and the vote is limited to the qualified voters who                    
26       are registered to vote [RESIDING] in the proposed borough but outside all cities in                           
27       the proposed borough.                                                                                             
28    * Sec. 63.  AS 29.05.110 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                            
29            (f)  In this section, "qualified voter" has the meaning given in AS 15.60.010.                             
30    * Sec. 64.  AS 15.10.020(b) and AS 15.20.048 are repealed.                                                       
31    * Sec. 65.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                        
01 read:                                                                                                                   
02       APPLICABILITY.  The changes made by secs. 34 - 57 of this Act apply to an                                         
03 application for an initiative, referendum, or recall filed with the lieutenant governor on or                           
04 after the effective date of this Act.                                                                                   
05    * Sec. 66.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                        
06 read:                                                                                                                   
07       TRANSITION.  An initiative, referendum, or recall for which an application was filed                              
08 with the lieutenant governor before the effective date of this Act is subject to the provisions of                      
09 AS 15.45 as they existed on the day before the effective date of this Act.