00                              HOUSE BILL NO. 19                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to elections."                                                                                         
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1. AS 15.10.120(c) is amended to read:                                                                   
04 (c)  An election supervisor shall appoint one nominee of the political party of                                     
05 which the governor is a member [OR POLITICAL GROUP WITH THE LARGEST                                                 
06 NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS AT THE TIME OF THE PRECEDING                                                                
07 GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION] and one nominee of the political party that                                                 
08 received [OR POLITICAL GROUP WITH] the second largest number of votes                                           
09 statewide in [REGISTERED VOTERS AT THE TIME OF] the preceding                                                       
10 gubernatorial election. If [HOWEVER, THE ELECTION SUPERVISOR MAY                                                    
11 APPOINT A QUALIFIED PERSON REGISTERED AS A MEMBER OF A THIRD                                                            
12 POLITICAL PARTY OR POLITICAL GROUP OR AS A NONPARTISAN OR                                                               
13 UNDECLARED VOTER IF] a party district committee or state party central                                                  
14 committee of the party of which the governor is a member [OR GROUP WITH                                             
15 THE LARGEST NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS] or the party that received                                                 
01 [OR GROUP WITH] the second largest number of votes statewide in [REGISTERED                                         
02 VOTERS AT THE TIME OF] the preceding gubernatorial election fails to present the                                        
03 names prescribed by (b) of this section by April 15 of a regular election year or at least                              
04 60 days before a special [PRIMARY] election, the election supervisor may appoint                                    
05       any qualified individual registered to vote.                                                                  
06    * Sec. 2. AS 15.10.170 is amended to read:                                                                         
07 Sec. 15.10.170. Appointment and privileges of watchers. (a) The precinct                                              
08 party committee, where an organized precinct committee exists, or the party district                                    
09 committee where no organized precinct committee exists, or the state party                                              
10 chairperson where neither a precinct nor a party district committee exists, may appoint                                 
11 one or more persons as watchers in each precinct and counting center for any election.                                  
12 Each candidate not representing a political party may appoint one or more watchers                                  
13 for each precinct or counting center in the candidate's respective district or the state for                            
14 any election. Any organization or organized group that sponsors or opposes an                                           
15 initiative, referendum, or recall may have one or more persons as watchers at the polls                                 
16 and counting centers after first obtaining authorization from the director. A state party                               
17 chairperson, a precinct party committee, a party district committee, or a candidate not                             
18 representing a political party or organization or organized group may not have                                      
19 more than one watcher on duty at a time in any precinct or counting center. A watcher                                   
20 must be a United States citizen. The watcher may be present at a position inside the                                    
21 place of voting or counting that affords a full view of all action of the election officials                            
22 taken from the time the polls are opened until the ballots are finally counted and the                                  
23 results certified by the election board or the data processing review board. The                                        
24 election board or the data processing review board may require each watcher to                                          
25 present written proof showing appointment by the precinct party committee, the party                                    
26 district committee, the organization or organized group, or the candidate the watcher                                   
27 represents that is signed by the chairperson of the precinct party committee, the                                   
28 party district committee, the state party chairperson, the organization or                                          
29       organized group, or the candidate representing no party.                                                    
30 (b)  In addition to the watchers appointed under (a) of this section, in a primary                                      
31 election, [OR] special [PRIMARY] election [OR SPECIAL ELECTION] under                                               
01 AS 15.40.140, or special runoff election under AS 15.40.143, each candidate may                                     
02       appoint one watcher in each precinct and counting center.                                                         
03    * Sec. 3. AS 15.13.020(b) is amended to read:                                                                      
04 (b)  The governor shall appoint two members of each of the two political                                                
05 parties whose candidate for governor received the highest number of votes in [OR                                    
06 POLITICAL GROUPS WITH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF REGISTERED                                                                  
07 VOTERS AT THE TIME OF] the most recent preceding general election at which a                                            
08 governor was elected. The two appointees from each of these two parties [OR                                             
09 GROUPS] shall be chosen from a list of four names to be submitted by the central                                        
10       committee of each party [OR GROUP].                                                                               
11    * Sec. 4. AS 15.13.020(d) is amended to read:                                                                      
12 (d)  Members of the commission serve staggered terms of five years, or until a                                          
13 successor is appointed and qualifies. The terms of no two members who are members                                       
14 of the same political party [OR POLITICAL GROUP] may expire in consecutive                                              
15 years. A member may not serve more than one term. However, a person appointed to                                        
16 fill the unexpired term of a predecessor may be appointed to a successive full five-year                                
17       term.                                                                                                             
18    * Sec. 5. AS 15.13.074(c) is amended to read:                                                                      
19            (c)  A person or group may not make a contribution                                                           
20 (1)  to a candidate or an individual who files with the commission the                                                  
21 document necessary to permit that individual to incur certain election-related expenses                                 
22 as authorized by AS 15.13.100 when the office is to be filled at a general election                                     
23       before the date that is 18 months before the general election;                                                    
24 (2)  to a candidate or an individual who files with the commission the                                                  
25 document necessary to permit that individual to incur certain election-related expenses                                 
26 as authorized by AS 15.13.100 for an office that is to be filled at a special election or                               
27 municipal election before the date that is 18 months before the date of the regular                                     
28 municipal election or that is before the date of the proclamation of the special election                               
29       at which the candidate or individual seeks election to public office; or                                          
30                 (3)  to any candidate later than the 45th day                                                           
31 (A)  after the date of the primary [OR SPECIAL PRIMARY]                                                                 
01            election if the candidate was on the ballot and was not nominated [CHOSEN                            
02            TO APPEAR ON THE GENERAL OR SPECIAL ELECTION BALLOT] at                                                      
03            the primary [OR SPECIAL PRIMARY] election; or                                                                
04                      (B)  after the date of the general [OR SPECIAL] election, or                                       
05            after the date of a municipal or municipal runoff election.                                                  
06    * Sec. 6. AS 15.13.110(f) is amended to read:                                                                      
07            (f)  During the year in which the election is scheduled, each of the following                               
08       shall file the campaign disclosure reports in the manner and at the times required by                             
09       this section:                                                                                                     
10 (1)  a person who, under the regulations adopted by the commission to                                                   
11 implement AS 15.13.100, indicates an intention to become a candidate for elective                                       
12       state executive or legislative office;                                                                            
13 (2)  a person who has filed a nominating petition under                                                             
14 AS 15.25.141 - 15.25.201 to become a candidate at the general election for elective                                 
15       state executive or legislative office;                                                                        
16 (3)  a person who campaigns as a write-in candidate for elective state                                              
17       executive or legislative office at the general election; and                                                      
18 (4) [(3)]  a group or nongroup entity that receives contributions or                                                
19 makes expenditures on behalf of or in opposition to a person described in (1) - (3) [(1)                            
20 OR (2)] of this subsection, except as provided for certain independent expenditures by                                  
21       nongroup entities in AS 15.13.135(a).                                                                             
22    * Sec. 7. AS 15.13.110(j) is amended to read:                                                                      
23 (j)  Before the primary election, a candidate seeking nomination by petition                                            
24 under AS 15.25.141 - 15.25.201 [AS 15.25.140 - 15.25.200] for the office of                                         
25 governor, lieutenant governor, state senator, or state representative shall file the                                    
26       reports under (a)(1) and (2) of this section.                                                                     
27    * Sec. 8. AS 15.13.400(4) is amended to read:                                                                      
28                 (4)  "contribution"                                                                                     
29 (A)  means a purchase, payment, promise or obligation to pay,                                                           
30 loan or loan guarantee, deposit or gift of money, goods, or services for which                                          
31 charge is ordinarily made, and includes the payment by a person other than a                                            
01            candidate or political party, or compensation for the personal services of                                   
02            another person, that is rendered to the candidate or political party, and that is                            
03            made for the purpose of                                                                                      
04                           (i)  influencing the nomination or election of a                                              
05                 candidate;                                                                                              
06                           (ii)  influencing a ballot proposition or question; or                                        
07                           (iii)  supporting or opposing an initiative proposal                                          
08                 application filed with the lieutenant governor under AS 15.45.020;                                      
09                      (B)  does not include                                                                              
10 (i)  services provided without compensation by                                                                          
11 individuals volunteering a portion or all of their time on behalf of a                                                  
12                 political party, candidate, or ballot proposition or question;                                          
13                           (ii)  ordinary hospitality in a home;                                                         
14 (iii)  two or fewer mass mailings before each election by                                                               
15 each political party describing the party's slate of candidates for                                                 
16 [MEMBERS OF THE PARTY RUNNING AS CANDIDATES FOR                                                                         
17 PUBLIC OFFICE IN THAT] election, which may include photographs,                                                         
18                 biographies, and information about the party's candidates;                                          
19 (iv)  the results of a poll limited to issues and not                                                                   
20 mentioning any candidate, unless the poll was requested by or designed                                                  
21                 primarily to benefit the candidate;                                                                     
22 (v)  any communication in the form of a newsletter from                                                                 
23 a legislator to the legislator's constituents, except a communication                                                   
24 expressly advocating the election or defeat of a candidate or a                                                         
25 newsletter or material in a newsletter that is clearly only for the private                                             
26                 benefit of a legislator or a legislative employee;                                                      
27 (vi)  a fundraising list provided without compensation                                                                  
28                 by one candidate or political party to a candidate or political party; or                               
29 (vii)  an opportunity to participate in a candidate forum                                                               
30 provided to a candidate without compensation to the candidate by                                                        
31                 another person and for which a candidate is not ordinarily charged;                                     
01    * Sec. 9. AS 15.15.030(5) is amended to read:                                                                      
02 (5)  The names of the candidates and their party designations shall be                                              
03 placed in separate sections on the state general election ballot under the office                                       
04 designation to which they were nominated. The [IF A CANDIDATE IS                                                    
05 REGISTERED AS AFFILIATED WITH A POLITICAL PARTY OR POLITICAL                                                            
06 GROUP, THE] party affiliation, if any, shall [MAY] be designated after the name of                                  
07 the candidate [, UPON REQUEST OF THE CANDIDATE. IF A CANDIDATE HAS                                                      
08 REQUESTED DESIGNATION AS NONPARTISAN OR UNDECLARED, THAT                                                                
09 DESIGNATION SHALL BE PLACED AFTER THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE.                                                            
10 IF A CANDIDATE IS NOT REGISTERED AS AFFILIATED WITH A POLITICAL                                                         
11 PARTY OR POLITICAL GROUP AND HAS NOT REQUESTED TO BE                                                                    
12 DESIGNATED AS NONPARTISAN OR UNDECLARED, THE CANDIDATE                                                                  
13 SHALL BE DESIGNATED AS UNDECLARED]. The lieutenant governor and the                                                     
14 governor shall be included under the same section. Provision shall be made for voting                                   
15 for write-in and no-party candidates within each section. Paper ballots for the state                               
16       general election shall be printed on white paper.                                                                 
17    * Sec. 10. AS 15.15.360(a) is amended to read:                                                                     
18            (a)  The election board shall count ballots according to the following rules:                                
19 (1)  A voter may mark a ballot only by filling in, making "X" marks,                                                    
20 diagonal, horizontal, or vertical marks, solid marks, stars, circles, asterisks, checks, or                             
21 plus signs that are clearly spaced in the oval opposite the name of the candidate,                                      
22 proposition, or question that the voter desires to designate. [IN A GENERAL                                             
23 ELECTION, A VOTER MAY MARK A BALLOT THAT REQUIRES THE VOTER                                                             
24 TO VOTE FOR CANDIDATES IN ORDER OF RANKED PREFERENCE BY THE                                                             
25 USE OF NUMERALS THAT ARE CLEARLY SPACED IN ONE OF THE OVALS                                                             
26 OPPOSITE THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE THAT THE VOTER DESIRES TO                                                            
27       DESIGNATE.]                                                                                                       
28 (2)  A failure to properly mark a ballot as to one or more candidates                                                   
29       does not itself invalidate the entire ballot.                                                                     
30 (3)  If a voter marks fewer names than there are persons to be                                                      
31       elected to the office, a vote shall be counted for each candidate properly marked.                            
01                 (4)  If a voter marks more names than there are persons to be elected to                            
02       the office, the votes for candidates for that office may not be counted.                                          
03                 (5) [(4)]  The mark specified in (1) of this subsection shall be counted                            
04       only if it is substantially inside the oval provided, or touching the oval so as to indicate                      
05       clearly that the voter intended the particular oval to be designated.                                             
06                 (6) [(5)]  Improper marks on the ballot may not be counted and do not                               
07       invalidate marks for candidates properly made.                                                                    
08                 (7) [(6)]  An erasure or correction invalidates only that section of the                            
09       ballot in which it appears.                                                                                       
10 (8) [(7)]  A vote marked for the candidate for President or Vice-                                                   
11 President of the United States is considered and counted as a vote for the election of                                  
12       the presidential electors.                                                                                        
13                 [(9)  REPEALED                                                                                          
14 (10)  REPEALED                                                                                                          
15 (11)  REPEALED                                                                                                          
16 (12)  REPEALED]                                                                                                         
17    * Sec. 11. AS 15.15.370 is amended to read:                                                                        
18 Sec. 15.15.370. Completion of ballot count; certificate. When the count of                                            
19 ballots is completed, and in no event later than the day after the election, the election                               
20 board shall make a certificate in duplicate of the results. The certificate includes the                                
21 number of votes cast for each candidate, [INCLUDING, FOR A CANDIDATE IN A                                               
22 GENERAL ELECTION, THE NUMBER OF VOTES AT EACH ROUND OF THE                                                              
23 RANKED-CHOICE TABULATION PROCESS UNDER AS 15.15.350, THE                                                                
24 NUMBER OF VOTES] for and against each proposition, yes or no on each question,                                          
25 and any additional information prescribed by the director. The election board shall,                                    
26 immediately upon completion of the certificate or as soon thereafter as the local mail                                  
27 service permits, send in one sealed package to the director one copy of the certificate                                 
28 and the register. In addition, all ballots properly cast shall be mailed to the director in a                           
29 separate, sealed package. Both packages, in addition to an address on the outside, shall                                
30 clearly indicate the precinct from which they come. Each board shall, immediately                                       
31 upon completion of the certification and as soon thereafter as the local mail service                                   
01 permits, send the duplicate certificate to the respective election supervisor. The                                      
02 director may authorize election boards in precincts in those areas of the state where                                   
03 distance and weather make mail communication unreliable to forward their election                                       
04 results by telephone or radio. The director may authorize the unofficial totaling of                                    
05 votes on a regional basis by election supervisors, tallying the votes as indicated on                                   
06 duplicate certificates. To ensure adequate protection, the director shall prescribe the                                 
07 manner in which the ballots, registers, and all other election records and materials are                                
08       thereafter preserved, transferred, and destroyed.                                                               
09    * Sec. 12. AS 15.15.450 is amended to read:                                                                        
10 Sec. 15.15.450. Certification of state ballot counting review. Upon                                                   
11 completion of the state ballot counting review, the director shall certify the person                               
12 receiving the largest number of votes for the office for which that person was a                                    
13 candidate as elected to that office [NOMINATED OR ELECTED, AS                                                       
14 APPLICABLE,] and shall certify the approval of a justice or judge not rejected by a                                     
15 majority of the voters voting on the question. The director shall issue to the elected                                  
16 candidates and approved justices and judges a certificate of their election or approval.                                
17 The director shall also certify the results of a proposition and other question except                                  
18 that the lieutenant governor shall certify the results of an initiative, referendum, or                                 
19       constitutional amendment.                                                                                       
20    * Sec. 13. AS 15.20.081(a) is amended to read:                                                                     
21 (a)  A qualified voter may apply in person, by mail, or by facsimile, scanning,                                         
22 or other electronic transmission to the director for an absentee ballot under this                                      
23 section. Another individual may apply for an absentee ballot on behalf of a qualified                                   
24 voter if that individual is designated to act on behalf of the voter in a written general                               
25 power of attorney or a written special power of attorney that authorizes the other                                      
26 individual to apply for an absentee ballot on behalf of the voter. The application must                                 
27 include the address or, if the application requests delivery of an absentee ballot by                                   
28 electronic transmission, the telephone electronic transmission number, to which the                                     
29 absentee ballot is to be returned, the applicant's full Alaska residence address, and the                               
30 applicant's signature. However, a person residing outside the United States and                                         
31 applying to vote absentee in federal elections in accordance with AS 15.05.011 need                                     
01 not include an Alaska residence address in the application. A person may supply to a                                    
02 voter an absentee ballot application form with a political party or group affiliation                                   
03 indicated only if the voter is already registered as affiliated with the political party or                             
04 group indicated. Only the voter or the individual designated by the voter in a                                      
05 written power of attorney under this subsection may mark the voter's choice of                                      
06 primary ballot on an application. A person supplying an absentee ballot                                             
07 application form may not design or mark the application in a manner that                                            
08 suggests choice of one ballot over another, except that ballot choices may be listed                                
09 on an application as authorized by the division. The application must be made on a                                  
10 form prescribed or approved by the director. The voter or registration official shall                                   
11 submit the application directly to the division of elections. For purposes of this                                      
12 subsection, "directly to the division of elections" means that an application may not be                                
13 submitted to any intermediary that could control or delay the submission of the                                         
14 application to the division or gather data on the applicant from the application form.                                  
15 However, nothing in this subsection is intended to prohibit a voter from giving a                                       
16 completed absentee ballot application to a friend, relative, or associate for transfer to                               
17 the United States Postal Service or a private commercial delivery service for delivery                                  
18       to the division.                                                                                                  
19    * Sec. 14. AS 15.20.081(h) is amended to read:                                                                     
20 (h)  Except as provided in AS 15.20.480, an absentee ballot returned by mail                                            
21 from outside the United States or from an overseas voter qualifying under                                               
22 AS 15.05.011 that has been marked and mailed not later than election day may not be                                     
23 counted unless the ballot is received by the election supervisor not later than the close                               
24       of business on the                                                                                                
25 (1)  10th day following a primary election or special [PRIMARY]                                                         
26       election under AS 15.40.140; or                                                                                   
27 (2)  15th day following a general election, special runoff election, or                                             
28 special election, other than a special [PRIMARY] election described in (1) of this                                      
29       subsection.                                                                                                       
30    * Sec. 15. AS 15.20.190(a) is amended to read:                                                                     
31 (a)  Thirty days before the date of an election, the election supervisors shall                                         
01 appoint, in the same manner provided for the appointment of election officials                                          
02 prescribed in AS 15.10, district absentee ballot counting boards and district questioned                                
03 ballot counting boards, each composed of at least four members. At least one member                                     
04 of each board must be a member of the same political party of which the governor is                                 
05 a member [OR POLITICAL GROUP WITH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF                                                             
06 REGISTERED VOTERS AT THE TIME OF THE PRECEDING                                                                          
07 GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION], and at least one member of each board must be a                                                
08 member of the political party whose candidate for governor received the second                                      
09 largest number of votes in [OR POLITICAL GROUP WITH THE SECOND                                                      
10 LARGEST NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS AT THE TIME OF] the                                                                 
11 preceding gubernatorial election. The district boards shall assist the election                                         
12 supervisors in counting the absentee and questioned ballots and shall receive the same                                  
13       compensation paid election officials under AS 15.15.380.                                                          
14    * Sec. 16. AS 15.20.203(i) is amended to read:                                                                     
15 (i)  The director shall mail the materials described in (h) of this section to the                                      
16       voter not later than                                                                                              
17 (1)  10 days after completion of the review of ballots by the state                                                     
18 review board for a primary election or for a special [PRIMARY] election under                                       
19       AS 15.40.140 that is followed by a special runoff election;                                                   
20 (2)  60 days after certification of the results of a general election,                                              
21 special runoff election, or special election other than a special [PRIMARY] election                                
22       described in (1) of this subsection.                                                                              
23    * Sec. 17. AS 15.20.203(j) is amended to read:                                                                     
24 (j)  The director shall make available through a free access system to each                                             
25 absentee voter a system to check to see whether the voter's ballot was counted and, if                                  
26 not counted, the reason why the ballot was not counted. The director shall make this                                    
27       information available through the free access system not less than                                                
28 (1)  10 days after certification of the results of a primary election, or a                                         
29 special [PRIMARY] election under AS 15.40.140 that is followed by a special                                         
30       runoff election; and                                                                                          
31 (2)  30 days after certification of the results of a general or special                                                 
01       election, other than a special [PRIMARY] election described in (1) of this subsection.                            
02    * Sec. 18. AS 15.20.207(i) is amended to read:                                                                     
03            (i)  The director shall mail the materials described in (h) of this section to the                           
04       voter not later than                                                                                              
05                 (1)  10 days after completion of the review of ballots by the state                                     
06       review board for a primary election or for a special [PRIMARY] election under                                 
07       AS 15.40.140 that is followed by a special runoff election;                                                   
08                 (2)  60 days after certification of the results of a general or special                                 
09       election, other than a special [PRIMARY] election described in (1) of this subsection.                            
10    * Sec. 19. AS 15.20.207(k) is amended to read:                                                                     
11 (k)  The director shall make available through a free access system to each                                             
12 voter voting a questioned ballot a system to check to see whether the voter's ballot was                                
13 counted and, if not counted, the reason why the ballot was not counted. The director                                    
14       shall make this information available through the free access system not less than                                
15 (1)  10 days after the certification of the results of a primary election or                                        
16 a special [PRIMARY] election under AS 15.40.140 that is followed by a special                                       
17       runoff election; and                                                                                          
18 (2)  30 days after certification of the results of a general or special                                                 
19       election, other than a special [PRIMARY] election described in (1) of this subsection.                            
20    * Sec. 20. AS 15.20.211(d) is amended to read:                                                                     
21 (d)  The director shall mail the materials described in (c) of this section to the                                      
22       voter not later than                                                                                              
23 (1)  10 days after completion of the review of ballots by the state                                                     
24 review board for a primary, election or for a special [PRIMARY] election under                                  
25       AS 15.40.140 that is followed by a special runoff election;                                                   
26 (2)  60 days after certification of the results of a general or special                                                 
27       election, other than a special [PRIMARY] election described in (1) of this subsection.                            
28    * Sec. 21. AS 15.20.211(f) is amended to read:                                                                     
29 (f)  The director shall make available through a free access system to each                                             
30 voter whose ballot was subject to partial counting under this section a system to check                                 
31 to see whether the voter's ballot was partially counted and, if not counted, the reason                                 
01       why the ballot was not counted. The director shall make this information available                                
02       through the free access system not less than                                                                      
03                 (1)  10 days after certification of the results of a primary election or a                              
04       special [PRIMARY] election under AS 15.40.140 that is followed by a special                                   
05       runoff election; and                                                                                          
06                 (2)  30 days after the certification of the results of a general or special                         
07       election, other than a special [PRIMARY] election described in (1) of this subsection.                            
08    * Sec. 22. AS 15.25.010 is amended to read:                                                                        
09            Sec. 15.25.010. Provision for primary election. Candidates for the elective                                
10 state executive and state and national legislative offices shall be nominated in a                                      
11 primary election by direct vote of the people in the manner prescribed by this chapter.                                 
12 Unless two or more political parties have jointly requested a combined primary                                      
13 election ballot, the director shall prepare and provide a primary election ballot                                   
14 for each political party. The director shall prepare and provide a combined                                         
15 primary election ballot for two or more parties that have jointly requested a                                       
16 combined primary election ballot. A voter registered as affiliated with a political                                 
17 party may vote that party's ballot, or, a combined primary election ballot if the                                   
18 party's candidates are listed on the combined primary election ballot. A voter                                      
19 registered as nonpartisan or undeclared rather than as affiliated with a                                            
20 particular political party may vote the political party ballot or combined primary                                  
21 election ballot of the voter's choice unless prohibited from doing so under                                         
22 AS 15.25.015. A voter registered as affiliated with a political party may not vote                                  
23 the ballot of a different political party or a combined primary election ballot that                                
24 only includes candidates of political parties other than the party the voter is                                     
25 registered as affiliated with unless permitted to do so under AS 15.25.015 [THE                                     
26 PRIMARY ELECTION DOES NOT SERVE TO DETERMINE THE NOMINEE OF                                                             
27 A POLITICAL PARTY OR POLITICAL GROUP BUT SERVES ONLY TO                                                                 
28 NARROW THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES WHOSE NAMES WILL APPEAR                                                                 
29 ON THE BALLOT AT THE GENERAL ELECTION. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN                                                            
30 AS 15.25.100(d), ONLY THE FOUR CANDIDATES WHO RECEIVE THE                                                               
31 GREATEST NUMBER OF VOTES FOR ANY OFFICE SHALL ADVANCE TO                                                                
01       THE GENERAL ELECTION].                                                                                          
02    * Sec. 23. AS 15.25 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                    
03 Sec. 15.25.015. Participation in primary election selection of a political                                            
04 party's candidates. (a) Not later than 5:00 p.m., Alaska time, on September 1 of the                                  
05 calendar year before the calendar year in which a primary election is to be held, a                                     
06 political party shall submit a notice in writing to the director stating whether the party                              
07 bylaws expand or limit who may participate in the primary election for selection of the                                 
08 party's candidates for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices                              
09 and whether the party requests a combined primary election ballot. If the party                                         
10 requests a combined primary election ballot, the party shall request the combined                                       
11 primary election ballot jointly with the other parties requesting the combined primary                                  
12 election ballot. A copy of the party's bylaws expanding or limiting who may                                             
13 participate in the primary election for selection of the party's candidates,                                            
14 documentation required under (b) of this section, and other information required by                                     
15 the director, must be submitted along with the notice. The notice, bylaws,                                              
16 documentation, and other information required by the director shall be provided by the                                  
17       party's chairperson or another party official designated by the party's bylaws.                                   
18 (b)  Once a political party timely submits a notice and bylaws under (a) of this                                        
19 section and the director finds that the party has met the requirements of this chapter                                  
20 and other applicable laws, the director shall permit a voter registered as affiliated with                              
21 another party to vote the party's ballot or a combined primary election ballot that                                     
22 includes the party's candidates if the voter is permitted by the party's bylaws to                                      
23 participate in the selection of the party's candidates and may not permit a voter                                       
24 registered as nonpartisan or undeclared to vote a party's ballot or a combined primary                                  
25 election ballot that includes the party's candidates if the party's bylaws restrict                                     
26 participation by nonpartisan or undeclared voters in the party's primary; however, for a                                
27 subsequent primary election, the party shall timely submit another notice, bylaws,                                      
28 documentation, and other information under (a) of this section if the party's bylaws                                    
29 regarding who may participate in the primary election for selection of the party's                                      
30       candidates change.                                                                                                
31    * Sec. 24. AS 15.25.030(a) is amended to read:                                                                     
01 (a)  A member of a political party [PERSON] who seeks to become a                                                   
02 candidate of the party in the primary election [OR A SPECIAL PRIMARY                                                
03 ELECTION] shall execute and file a declaration of candidacy. The declaration shall be                                   
04 executed under oath before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments and must                                       
05       state in substance                                                                                                
06                 (1)  the full name of the candidate;                                                                    
07                 (2)  the full mailing address of the candidate;                                                         
08                 (3)  if the candidacy is for the office of state senator or state                                       
09       representative, the house or senate district of which the candidate is a resident;                                
10                 (4)  the office for which the candidate seeks nomination;                                               
11 (5)  the name of the political party of which the person is a candidate                                         
12 for nomination [OR POLITICAL GROUP WITH WHICH THE CANDIDATE IS                                                      
13 REGISTERED AS AFFILIATED, OR WHETHER THE CANDIDATE WOULD                                                                
14 PREFER A NONPARTISAN OR UNDECLARED DESIGNATION PLACED                                                                   
15       AFTER THE CANDIDATE'S NAME ON THE BALLOT];                                                                        
16 (6)  the full residence address of the candidate, and the date on which                                                 
17       residency at that address began;                                                                                  
18 (7)  the date of the primary election [OR SPECIAL PRIMARY                                                               
19       ELECTION] at which the candidate seeks nomination;                                                                
20 (8)  the length of residency in the state and in the district of the                                                    
21       candidate;                                                                                                        
22 (9)  that the candidate will meet the specific citizenship requirements of                                              
23       the office for which the person is a candidate;                                                                   
24                 (10)  that the candidate is a qualified voter as required by law;                                       
25 (11)  that the candidate will meet the specific age requirements of the                                                 
26 office for which the person is a candidate; if the candidacy is for the office of state                                 
27 representative, that the candidate will be at least 21 years of age on the first scheduled                              
28 day of the first regular session of the legislature convened after the election; if the                                 
29 candidacy is for the office of state senator, that the candidate will be at least 25 years                              
30 of age on the first scheduled day of the first regular session of the legislature convened                              
31 after the election; if the candidacy is for the office of governor or lieutenant governor,                              
01 that the candidate will be at least 30 years of age on the first Monday in December                                     
02 following election or, if the office is to be filled by special election under                                          
03 AS 15.40.230 - 15.40.310, that the candidate will be at least 30 years of age on the                                    
04 date of certification of the results of the special election; or, for any other office, by                              
05       the time that the candidate, if elected, is sworn into office;                                                    
06                 (12)  that the candidate requests that the candidate's name be placed on                                
07       the primary [ELECTION OR SPECIAL PRIMARY] election ballot;                                                        
08                 (13)  that the required fee accompanies the declaration;                                                
09                 (14)  that the person is not a candidate for any other office to be voted                               
10 on at the primary or general election and that the person is not a candidate for this                                   
11       office under any other declaration of candidacy or nominating petition; and                                   
12 (15)  the manner in which the candidate wishes the candidate's name to                                                  
13       appear on the ballot [;                                                                                           
14 (16)  IF THE CANDIDACY IS FOR THE OFFICE OF THE                                                                         
15 GOVERNOR, THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE FOR LIEUTENANT                                                                      
16 GOVERNOR RUNNING JOINTLY WITH THE CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR;                                                               
17       AND                                                                                                               
18 (17)  IF THE CANDIDACY IS FOR THE OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT                                                                  
19 GOVERNOR, THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR RUNNING                                                                
20       JOINTLY WITH THE CANDIDATE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR].                                                              
21    * Sec. 25. AS 15.25 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                    
22 Sec. 15.25.057. Nomination by party petition where incumbent dies or is                                               
23 disqualified or incapacitated. (a) If an unopposed incumbent candidate for                                            
24 renomination dies, becomes disqualified from holding the office the candidate is                                        
25 seeking, or is certified as being incapacitated between June 1 of the election year and                                 
26 that date which is more than 54 days before the date of the primary election, the                                       
27 candidate's place on the ballot may be filled by party petition. The petition shall state                               
28 that the political party requests the name of the proposed candidate replace that of the                                
29 incumbent on the primary election ballot and shall be accompanied by a declaration of                                   
30 candidacy from the person named in the petition. The petition must be received by the                                   
31 director not later than 14 days after the death, disqualification, or certification of                                  
01 incapacity of the incumbent or 52 days before the primary election date, whichever                                      
02       time is earlier.                                                                                                  
03 (b)  The method for certifying an incumbent candidate for nomination as being                                           
04 incapacitated, the method for selecting the person who is to be named in the party                                      
05 petition, and the method for placing the name of the person selected on the primary                                     
06 nomination ballot are the same as those prescribed in AS 15.25.111 and 15.25.131                                        
07       relating to filling vacancies of party nominees in a general election.                                            
08 (c)  The death, disqualification, or certification of incapacity of the incumbent                                       
09 within 52 days before or on the primary election date does not affect the counting and                                  
10 review of the ballots. If the result of the counting and review discloses that the                                      
11 candidate, if the candidate had lived, would have been nominated, the candidate shall                                   
12 be declared nominated. The vacancy may be filled by party petition as provided in                                       
13       AS 15.25.111 - 15.25.131.                                                                                       
14    * Sec. 26. AS 15.25.060 is repealed and reenacted to read:                                                         
15 Sec. 15.25.060. Preparation and distribution of ballots; appropriate ballot.                                          
16 (a) The primary election ballots shall be prepared and distributed by the director in the                               
17 manner prescribed in this section. Unless two or more political parties have jointly                                    
18 requested a combined primary election ballot, the director shall prepare and provide a                                  
19 primary election ballot for each political party that contains all of the candidates of                                 
20 that party for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices and all                              
21 of the ballot titles and propositions required to appear on the ballot at the primary                                   
22 election. Upon the joint request of two or more political parties, the director shall                                   
23 prepare and provide a combined primary election ballot for those parties that contains                                  
24 all of the candidates of the parties for elective state executive and state and national                                
25 legislative offices and all of the ballot titles and propositions required to appear on the                             
26 ballot at the primary election. The director shall print the ballots on white paper and                                 
27 place the names of all candidates who have properly filed in groups according to                                        
28 offices. The order of the placement of the names for each office shall be as provided                                   
29 for the general election ballot. Blank spaces may not be provided on the ballot for the                                 
30 writing or pasting in of names. The director shall also prepare and print a separate                                    
31 primary election ballot including only the ballot titles and propositions required to                                   
01       appear on the ballot.                                                                                             
02 (b)  A voter may vote only one primary election ballot. A voter may vote a                                              
03 political party ballot only if the voter is registered as affiliated with that party, is                                
04 allowed to participate in the party primary under the party's bylaws, or is registered as                               
05 nonpartisan or undeclared rather than as affiliated with a particular political party and                               
06 the party's bylaws do not restrict participation by nonpartisan or undeclared voters in                                 
07 the party's primary. A voter may vote a combined primary election ballot only if the                                    
08 voter is registered as affiliated with a party appearing on the ballot, is allowed to                                   
09 participate in the party primary under the parties' bylaws, or is registered as                                         
10 nonpartisan or undeclared rather than as affiliated with a particular political party and                               
11 the parties' bylaws do not restrict participation by nonpartisan or undeclared voters in                                
12 the parties' primaries. For the purpose of determining which primary election ballot a                                  
13 voter may use, a voter's party affiliation is considered to be the affiliation registered                               
14 with the director as of the 30th day before the primary election. If a voter changes                                    
15 party affiliation within the 30 days before the primary election, the voter's previous                                  
16       party affiliation shall be used for the determination under this subsection.                                      
17 (c)  If a voter is not voting in person and has requested an absentee ballot or                                         
18 special needs ballot but has not indicated a choice of ballot, the director shall provide                               
19 the voter with the ballot listing the candidates of the political party or group with                                   
20       which the voter is affiliated, as determined under (b) of this section.                                           
21    * Sec. 27. AS 15.25.100 is repealed and reenacted to read:                                                         
22 Sec. 15.25.100. Placement of nominees on general election ballot. The                                                 
23 director shall place the name of the candidate receiving the highest number of votes                                    
24       for an office by a political party on the general election ballot.                                                
25    * Sec. 28. AS 15.25.105(a) is amended to read:                                                                     
26 (a)  If a candidate does not appear on the primary election ballot or is not                                            
27 successful in advancing to the general election and wishes to be a candidate in the                                     
28 general election, the candidate may file as a write-in candidate. Votes for a write-in                                  
29 candidate may not be counted unless that candidate has filed a letter of intent with the                                
30       director stating                                                                                                  
31                 (1)  the full name of the candidate;                                                                    
01                 (2)  the full residence address of the candidate and the date on which                                  
02       residency at that address began;                                                                                  
03                 (3)  the full mailing address of the candidate;                                                         
04 (4)  the name of the political party or political group of which the                                            
05 candidate is a member, if any [WITH WHICH THE CANDIDATE IS                                                          
06 REGISTERED AS AFFILIATED, OR WHETHER THE CANDIDATE WOULD                                                                
07       PREFER A NONPARTISAN OR UNDECLARED DESIGNATION];                                                                  
08                 (5)  if the candidate is for the office of state senator or state                                       
09       representative, the house or senate district of which the candidate is a resident;                                
10                 (6)  the office that the candidate seeks;                                                               
11                 (7)  the date of the election at which the candidate seeks election;                                    
12 (8)  the length of residency in the state and in the house district of the                                              
13       candidate;                                                                                                        
14 (9)  the name of the candidate as the candidate wishes it to be written                                                 
15       on the ballot by the voter;                                                                                       
16 (10)  that the candidate meets the specific citizenship requirements of                                                 
17       the office for which the person is a candidate;                                                                   
18 (11)  that the candidate will meet the specific age requirements of the                                                 
19 office for which the person is a candidate; if the candidacy is for the office of state                                 
20 representative, that the candidate will be at least 21 years of age on the first scheduled                              
21 day of the first regular session of the legislature convened after the election; if the                                 
22 candidacy is for the office of state senator, that the candidate will be at least 25 years                              
23 of age on the first scheduled day of the first regular session of the legislature convened                              
24 after the election; if the candidacy is for the office of governor or lieutenant governor,                              
25 that the candidate will be at least 30 years of age on the first Monday in December                                     
26 following election or, if the office is to be filled by special election under                                          
27 AS 15.40.230 - 15.40.310, that the candidate will be at least 30 years of age on the                                    
28 date of certification of the results of the special election; or, for any other office, by                              
29       the time that the candidate, if elected, is sworn into office;                                                    
30                 (12)  that the candidate is a qualified voter as required by law; and                                   
31 (13)  that the candidate is not a candidate for any other office to be                                                  
01       voted on at the general election and that the candidate is not a candidate for this office                        
02       under any other nominating petition or declaration of candidacy.                                                  
03    * Sec. 29. AS 15.25.105(b) is amended to read:                                                                     
04            (b)  If a write-in candidate is running for the office of governor, the candidate                            
05       must file a joint letter of intent together with a candidate for lieutenant governor. Both                    
06       candidates must be of the same political party or group.                                                      
07    * Sec. 30. AS 15.25 is amended by adding new sections to article 1 to read:                                        
08            Sec. 15.25.111. Filling vacancies by party petition. If a candidate of a                                   
09       political party nominated at the primary election dies, withdraws, resigns, becomes                               
10 disqualified from holding the office for which the candidate is nominated, or is                                        
11 certified as being incapacitated in the manner prescribed by this section after the                                     
12 primary election and 64 days or more before the general election, the vacancy may be                                    
13 filled by party petition. The central committee of any political party or any party                                     
14 district committee may certify as being incapacitated any candidate nominated by their                                  
15 respective party by presenting to the director a sworn statement made by a panel of                                     
16 three licensed physicians, not more than two of whom may be of the same political                                       
17 party, that the candidate is physically or mentally incapacitated to an extent that                                     
18 would, in the panel's judgment, prevent the candidate from active service during the                                    
19 term of office if elected. The director shall place the name of the person nominated by                                 
20 party petition on the general election ballot. The name of a candidate disqualified                                     
21       under this section may not appear on the general election ballot.                                                 
22 Sec. 15.25.121. Requirements for party petition. Party petitions for the                                              
23 nomination of candidates shall state in substance that the political party desires and                                  
24 intends to support the named candidate for the named office and requests that the                                       
25 name of the proposed candidate be placed on the general election ballot. The petition                                   
26       may be filed not later than 64 days before the date of the general election.                                    
27 Sec. 15.25.131. Selection of nominees for party petition. The nominees of                                             
28 political parties by party petition may be selected for statewide offices by the state                                  
29 party central committee or in any other manner prescribed by the party bylaws, and the                                  
30 petition for statewide offices shall be signed by the state chairperson of the political                                
31 party or, in the absence of the state chairperson, by any two members of the state party                                
01 central committee. The nominees of political parties by party petition may be selected                                  
02 for district-wide offices by the respective party district committee or in any other                                    
03 manner prescribed by the party bylaws, and the petition for district-wide offices shall                                 
04 be signed by the chairperson of the party district committee, or in the absence of the                                  
05 chairperson, by any two members of the party district committee, or in any other                                        
06 manner prescribed by the party bylaws. The petition may be delivered in person or by                                    
07       mail, facsimile, or other reliable electronic transmission.                                                     
08    * Sec. 31. AS 15.25 is amended by adding new sections to article 2 to read:                                        
09 Sec. 15.25.141. Provision for no-party candidate nominations. Candidates                                              
10       not representing a political party are nominated by petition.                                                     
11 Sec. 15.25.151. Date of filing petition. A candidate seeking nomination by                                            
12 petition shall submit the information required under AS 15.25.181(a)(1) - (8) and (11)                                  
13 - (17) to the director in the time and manner specified in AS 15.25.040. The full                                       
14 petition with voter signatures shall be filed with the director by actual physical                                      
15 delivery in person at or before 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on the day of the primary                                   
16 election in the year in which a general election is held for the office, or by actual                                   
17 physical delivery to the director by registered or certified mail return receipt requested                              
18 which is postmarked at or before 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on the day of the primary                                  
19 election in the year in which a general election is held for the office, and received not                               
20 more than 15 days after that time. If the postmark is illegible, a dated receipt from the                               
21       post office where dispatched shall be acceptable as evidence of mailing.                                          
22 Sec. 15.25.161. Required number of signatures for statewide office.                                                   
23 Petitions for the nomination of candidates for the office of governor, lieutenant                                       
24 governor, United States senator, and United States representative shall be signed by                                    
25 qualified voters of the state equal in number to at least one percent of the number of                                  
26       voters who cast ballots in the preceding general election.                                                        
27 Sec. 15.25.171. Required number of signatures for district-wide office.                                               
28 Petitions for the nomination of candidates for the office of state senator or state                                     
29 representative shall be signed by qualified voters of the house or senate district in                                   
30 which the proposed nominee desires to be a candidate equal in number to at least one                                    
31 percent of the number of voters who cast ballots in the proposed nominee's respective                                   
01       house or senate district in the preceding general election. A nominating petition may                             
02       not contain less than 50 signatures for any district.                                                             
03            Sec. 15.25.181. Requirements for petition. (a) The petition must state in                                  
04       substance                                                                                                         
05                 (1)  the full name of the candidate;                                                                    
06                 (2)  the full residence address of the candidate and the date on which                                  
07       residency at that address began;                                                                                  
08                 (3)  the full mailing address of the candidate;                                                         
09                 (4)  the name of the political group, if any, supporting the candidate;                                 
10 (5)  if the candidacy is for the office of state senator or state                                                       
11       representative, the house or senate district of which the candidate is a resident;                                
12                 (6)  the office for which the candidate is nominated;                                                   
13                 (7)  the date of the election at which the candidate seeks election;                                    
14 (8)  the length of residency in the state and in the district of the                                                    
15       candidate;                                                                                                        
16 (9)  that the subscribers are qualified voters of the state or house or                                                 
17       senate district in which the candidate resides;                                                                   
18 (10)  that the subscribers request that the candidate's name be placed on                                               
19       the general election ballot;                                                                                      
20 (11)  that the proposed candidate accepts the nomination and will serve                                                 
21       if elected with the statement signed by the proposed candidate;                                                   
22 (12)  the name of the candidate as the candidate wishes it to appear on                                                 
23       the ballot;                                                                                                       
24 (13)  that the candidate is not a candidate for any other office to be                                                  
25 voted on at the primary or general election and that the candidate is not a candidate for                               
26       this office under any other nominating petition or declaration of candidacy;                                      
27 (14)  that the candidate meets the specific citizenship requirements of                                                 
28       the office for which the person is a candidate;                                                                   
29 (15)  that the candidate will meet the specific age requirements of the                                                 
30 office for which the person is a candidate; if the candidacy is for the office of state                                 
31 representative, that the candidate will be at least 21 years of age on the first scheduled                              
01 day of the first regular session of the legislature convened after the election; if the                                 
02 candidacy is for the office of state senator, that the candidate will be at least 25 years                              
03 of age on the first scheduled day of the first regular session of the legislature convened                              
04 after the election; and if the candidacy is for the office of governor or lieutenant                                    
05 governor, that the candidate will be at least 30 years of age on the first Monday in                                    
06 December following the election or, if the office is to be filled by special election                                   
07 under AS 15.40.230 - 15.40.310, that the candidate will be at least 30 years of age on                                  
08 the date of certification of the results of the special election; or, for any other office,                             
09       by the time that the candidate, if elected, is sworn into office;                                                 
10                 (16)  that the candidate is a qualified voter; and                                                      
11 (17)  if the candidacy is for the office of the governor, the name of the                                               
12       candidate for lieutenant governor running jointly with the candidate for governor.                                
13 (b)  A person filing a nominating petition under this section, other than a                                             
14 person subject to AS 24.60 who is filing a petition for a state legislative office, shall                               
15 simultaneously file with the director a statement of income sources and business                                        
16 interests that complies with the requirements of AS 39.50. A person who is subject to                                   
17 AS 24.60 and is filing a nominating petition for state legislative office shall                                         
18 simultaneously file with the director a disclosure statement that complies with the                                     
19       requirements of AS 24.60.200.                                                                                     
20 (c)  An incumbent public official, other than a legislator, who has a current                                           
21 statement of income sources and business interests under AS 39.50 on file with the                                      
22 Alaska Public Offices Commission, or an incumbent legislator who has a current                                          
23 disclosure statement under AS 24.60.200 on file with the Alaska Public Offices                                          
24 Commission, is not required to file a statement of income sources and business                                          
25 interests or a disclosure statement with the nominating petition under (b) of this                                      
26       section.                                                                                                          
27 Sec. 15.25.186. Eligibility of candidate. The provisions of AS 15.25.042 and                                          
28 15.25.043 apply to determinations of a candidate's eligibility when a candidate seeks                                   
29       nomination by petition under AS 15.25.141 - 15.25.201.                                                            
30 Sec. 15.25.191. Placement of names on general election ballot. The director                                           
31 shall place the names and the political group affiliation of persons who have been                                      
01       properly nominated by petition on the general election ballot.                                                    
02 Sec. 15.25.201. Withdrawal of candidate's name. If a candidate nominated                                              
03 by petition dies or withdraws after the petition has been filed and 64 days or more                                     
04 before the general election, the director may not place the name of the candidate on                                    
05       the general election ballot.                                                                                      
06    * Sec. 32. AS 15.30.010 is amended to read:                                                                        
07 Sec. 15.30.010. Provision for selection of electors. Electors of President and                                        
08 Vice President of the United States are selected by election at the general election in                                 
09 presidential election years [, IN THE MANNER AND AS DETERMINED BY THE                                                   
10 RANKED-CHOICE METHOD OF TABULATING VOTES DESCRIBED IN                                                                   
11       AS 15.15.350 - 15.15.370].                                                                                      
12    * Sec. 33. AS 15.40.140 is amended to read:                                                                        
13 Sec. 15.40.140. Condition of calling [SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION                                                        
14 AND] special election. When a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator                                   
15 or United States representative, the governor shall, by proclamation, call a special                                    
16 [PRIMARY] election under AS 15.40.144(a); however, [TO BE HELD ON A DATE                                            
17 NOT LESS THAN 60, NOR MORE THAN 90, DAYS AFTER THE DATE THE                                                             
18 VACANCY OCCURS, TO BE FOLLOWED BY A SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE                                                             
19 FIRST TUESDAY THAT IS NOT A STATE HOLIDAY OCCURRING NOT LESS                                                            
20 THAN 60 DAYS AFTER THE SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION. HOWEVER, IN                                                            
21 AN ELECTION YEAR IN WHICH A CANDIDATE FOR THAT OFFICE IS NOT                                                            
22 REGULARLY ELECTED,] if the vacancy occurs on a date that is [NOT] less than 60                                          
23       days [, NOR MORE THAN 90,] before or is on or after the date of                                             
24 [(1)]  the primary election in the general election year during which                                               
25 a candidate to fill the office is regularly elected, the governor may not call a [,                                 
26 THE] special [PRIMARY] election [SHALL BE HELD ON THE DATE OF THE                                                       
27 PRIMARY ELECTION WITH THE SUBSEQUENT SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE                                                             
28       HELD ON THE DATE OF THE GENERAL ELECTION; OR                                                                      
29 (2)  THE GENERAL ELECTION, THE SPECIAL PRIMARY                                                                          
30 ELECTION SHALL BE HELD ON THE DATE OF THE GENERAL ELECTION                                                              
31 WITH THE SUBSEQUENT SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE FIRST                                                            
01       TUESDAY THAT IS NOT A STATE HOLIDAY OCCURRING NOT LESS THAN                                                       
02       60 DAYS AFTER THE SPECIAL PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION].                                                          
03    * Sec. 34. AS 15.40 is amended by adding new sections to read:                                                     
04 Sec. 15.40.143. Condition of calling a special runoff election. (a) If no                                             
05 candidate in a special election called under AS 15.40.140 receives over 50 percent of                                   
06 the votes cast for the office, the governor shall, by proclamation, call a special runoff                               
07       election under AS 15.40.144(b).                                                                                   
08            (b)  In a special runoff election called under (a) of this section, the director                             
09       shall place the names of the candidates receiving the greatest number of votes and the                            
10 second greatest number of votes in the special election on the special runoff election                                  
11       ballot.                                                                                                           
12 Sec. 15.40.144. Time of calling the special election and special runoff                                               
13 election. (a) Except as provided in (c) of this section, if a special election is called                              
14 under AS 15.40.140, it shall be held on a date not less than 60, nor more than 90, days                                 
15       after the date the vacancy occurs.                                                                                
16 (b)  Except as provided in (c) of this section, a special runoff election under                                         
17 AS 15.40.143 shall be held on the first Tuesday that is not a state holiday occurring                                   
18       not less than 60 days after the special election.                                                                 
19 (c)  In an election year in which a candidate for the vacant office is not                                              
20 regularly elected, and the vacancy occurs on a date that is not less than 60, nor more                                  
21       than 90, days before the date of                                                                                  
22 (1)  the primary election, the special election shall be held on the date                                               
23 of the primary election with any subsequent special runoff election under                                               
24       AS 15.40.143 to be held on the date of the general election; or                                                   
25 (2)  the general election, the special election shall be held on the date of                                            
26 the general election with any subsequent special runoff election under AS 15.40.143 to                                  
27 be held on the first Tuesday that is not a state holiday occurring not less than 60 days                                
28       after the special and general election.                                                                           
29    * Sec. 35. AS 15.40 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                    
30 Sec. 15.40.151. Condition for holding special election with primary. If the                                           
31 vacancy occurs on a date not less than 60, nor more than 90, days before the date of                                    
01       the primary election, the governor shall, by proclamation, call the special election to                           
02       be held on the date of the primary election.                                                                    
03    * Sec. 36. AS 15.40.160 is amended to read:                                                                        
04            Sec. 15.40.160. Proclamation. The governor shall issue the proclamation                                    
05       [CALLING THE SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION AND SPECIAL ELECTION] at                                                    
06       least 50 days before the                                                                                          
07                 (1)  special [PRIMARY] election; and                                                            
08                 (2)  if a special runoff election is required under AS 15.40.143(a),                                
09       special runoff election.                                                                                    
10    * Sec. 37. AS 15.40.165 is amended to read:                                                                        
11 Sec. 15.40.165. Term of elected senator. At the special election, or, as                                          
12 provided by AS 15.40.143, at the special runoff election, a United States senator                                   
13 shall be elected to fill the remainder of the unexpired term. The person elected shall                                  
14 take office on the date the United States Senate meets, convenes, or reconvenes                                         
15 following the certification of the results of the special election or special runoff                                
16       election by the director.                                                                                   
17    * Sec. 38. AS 15.40.170 is amended to read:                                                                        
18 Sec. 15.40.170. Term of elected representative. At the special election, or, as                                   
19 provided by AS 15.40.143, at the special runoff election, a United States                                           
20 representative shall be elected to fill the remainder of the unexpired term. The person                                 
21 elected shall take office on the date the United States house of representatives meets,                                 
22 convenes, or reconvenes following the certification of the results of the special                                       
23       election or special runoff election by the director.                                                        
24    * Sec. 39. AS 15.40.190 is amended to read:                                                                        
25 Sec. 15.40.190. Requirements of petition for no-party candidates. Petitions                                         
26 for the nomination of candidates not representing a political party shall be signed                                 
27 by qualified voters of the state equal in number to at least one percent of the                                     
28 number of voters who cast ballots in the preceding general election and shall                                       
29 [MUST BE EXECUTED UNDER OATH,] state in substance that which is required                                                
30 for nomination petitions by AS 15.25.181 [A DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY                                                
31 UNDER AS 15.25.030, AND INCLUDE THE FEE REQUIRED UNDER                                                                  
01       AS 15.25.050(a)].                                                                                               
02    * Sec. 40. AS 15.40 is amended by adding new sections to read:                                                     
03 Sec. 15.40.201. Requirements of party petition. Petitions for the nomination                                          
04 of candidates of political parties shall state in substance that the party desires and                                  
05 intends to support the named candidate for the office of United States senator or                                       
06 United States representative, as appropriate, at the special election and requests that                                 
07       the name of the candidate nominated be placed on the ballot.                                                    
08            Sec. 15.40.211. Selection of party nominees. The nominees of political                                     
09       parties may be selected by the state convention or in any other manner prescribed by                              
10 the party bylaws, and the petition shall be signed by the chairperson and secretary of                                  
11 the state convention, or if the nominees are selected by the party central committee,                                   
12 the petition shall be signed by the chairperson of the central committee or in any other                                
13       manner prescribed by the party bylaws.                                                                            
14    * Sec. 41. AS 15.40.220 is amended to read:                                                                        
15 Sec. 15.40.220. General provisions for conduct of [THE] special                                                       
16 [PRIMARY] election and special runoff election. Unless specifically provided                                        
17 otherwise, all provisions regarding the conduct of the [PRIMARY ELECTION AND]                                           
18 general election shall govern the conduct of the special [PRIMARY] election and the                                 
19 special runoff election of the United States senator or United States representative,                               
20 including provisions concerning voter qualifications; provisions regarding the duties,                                  
21 powers, rights, and obligations of the director, of other election officials, and of                                    
22 municipalities; provision for notification of the election; provision for payment of                                    
23 election expenses; provisions regarding employees being allowed time from work to                                       
24 vote; provisions for the counting, reviewing, and certification of returns; provisions                              
25 for running as, voting for, and counting ballots for a write-in candidate;                                          
26 provisions for the determination of the votes and of recounts, contests, and appeal; and                                
27       provision for absentee voting.                                                                                  
28    * Sec. 42. AS 15.40.230 is amended to read:                                                                        
29 Sec. 15.40.230. Condition and time of calling [SPECIAL PRIMARY                                                        
30 ELECTION AND] special election. When a person appointed to succeed to the                                             
31 office of lieutenant governor succeeds to the office of acting governor, the acting                                     
01 governor shall, by proclamation, call a special [PRIMARY] election to be held on a                                      
02 date not less than 60, nor more than 90, days after the date the vacancy in the office of                               
03 the governor occurred [AND A SUBSEQUENT SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD                                                     
04 ON THE FIRST TUESDAY THAT IS NOT A STATE HOLIDAY OCCURRING                                                              
05 NOT LESS THAN 60 DAYS AFTER THE SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION].                                                              
06 However, if the vacancy occurs on a date that is less than 60 days before or is on or                                   
07 after the date of the primary election in years in which a governor is regularly elected,                               
08 the acting governor shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term and may not call a                                  
09       special election.                                                                                               
10    * Sec. 43. AS 15.40.240 is amended to read:                                                                        
11 Sec. 15.40.240. Conditions for holding special [PRIMARY ELECTION                                                      
12 AND SPECIAL] election with primary or general election. If the vacancy occurs                                         
13 on a date not less than 60, nor more than 90, days before the date of the primary                                       
14 election in years in which a governor is regularly elected [IN AN ELECTION                                          
15 YEAR IN WHICH A GOVERNOR IS NOT REGULARLY ELECTED, THE                                                                  
16 ACTING GOVERNOR SHALL, BY PROCLAMATION, CALL THE SPECIAL                                                                
17 PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE DATE OF THE PRIMARY                                                                  
18 ELECTION AND THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE DATE OF                                                             
19 THE GENERAL ELECTION,] or [,] if the vacancy occurs on a date not less than 60,                                         
20 nor more than 90, days before the date of the primary election or general election in                               
21 election years in which a governor is not regularly elected, the acting governor shall,                                 
22 by proclamation, call the special [PRIMARY] election to be held on the date of the                                      
23 primary election or general election [WITH THE SUBSEQUENT SPECIAL                                                   
24 ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE FIRST TUESDAY THAT IS NOT A STATE                                                            
25 HOLIDAY OCCURRING NOT LESS THAN 60 DAYS AFTER THE SPECIAL                                                               
26       PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION].                                                                                  
27    * Sec. 44. AS 15.40.250 is amended to read:                                                                        
28 Sec. 15.40.250. Proclamation of [SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION AND]                                                        
29 special election. The acting governor shall issue the proclamation [CALLING THE                                       
30 SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION AND SPECIAL ELECTION] at least 50 days                                                         
31       before the [SPECIAL PRIMARY] election.                                                                          
01    * Sec. 45. AS 15.40.280 is amended to read:                                                                        
02 Sec. 15.40.280. Requirements of petition for no-party candidates. Petitions                                         
03 for the nomination of candidates not representing a political party shall be signed                                 
04 by qualified voters of the state equal in number to at least one percent of the                                     
05 number of voters who cast ballots in the preceding general election, shall include                                  
06 nominees for the office of governor and lieutenant governor, and shall [MUST BE                                     
07 EXECUTED UNDER OATH,] state in substance that which is required for                                                     
08 nomination petitions by AS 15.25.181 [A DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY                                                    
09 UNDER AS 15.25.030, AND INCLUDE THE FEE REQUIRED UNDER                                                                  
10       AS 15.25.050(a).]                                                                                               
11    * Sec. 46. AS 15.40 is amended by adding new sections to read:                                                     
12 Sec. 15.40.291. Requirements of party petition. Petitions for the nomination                                          
13 of candidates of political parties shall state in substance that the party desires and                                  
14 intends to support the named candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant                                      
15 governor at the special election and requests that the names of the two candidates                                      
16       nominated be placed on the ballot.                                                                              
17 Sec. 15.40.301. Selection of party nominees. The nominees of political                                                
18 parties may be selected by state convention or in any other manner prescribed by the                                    
19 party bylaws, and the petition shall be signed by the chairperson and secretary of the                                  
20 state convention, or, if the nominees are selected by the party central committee, the                                  
21 petition shall be signed by the state chairperson of the political party or in any other                                
22       manner prescribed by the party bylaws.                                                                            
23    * Sec. 47. AS 15.40.310 is amended to read:                                                                        
24 Sec. 15.40.310. General provisions for conduct of [THE SPECIAL                                                        
25 PRIMARY ELECTION AND] special election. Unless specifically provided                                                  
26 otherwise, all provisions regarding the conduct of the [PRIMARY AND] general                                            
27 election shall govern the conduct of the special [PRIMARY ELECTION AND                                                  
28 SPECIAL] election of the governor and lieutenant governor, including provisions                                         
29 concerning voter qualifications; provisions regarding the duties, powers, rights, and                                   
30 obligations of the director, of other election officials, and of municipalities; provision                              
31 for notification of the election; provision for payment of election expenses; provisions                                
01 regarding employees being allowed time from work to vote; provisions for the                                            
02 counting, reviewing, and certification of returns; provisions for the determination of                                  
03       the votes and of recounts, contests, and appeal; and provision for absentee voting.                             
04    * Sec. 48. AS 15.40.330 is amended to read:                                                                        
05 Sec. 15.40.330. Qualification and confirmation of appointee. (a) The                                                  
06 appointee shall meet the qualifications of a member of the legislature as prescribed in                                 
07 art. II, sec. 2, Constitution of the State of Alaska, [AND, IF THE PREDECESSOR IN                                       
08 OFFICE WAS A MEMBER OF A POLITICAL PARTY OR POLITICAL GROUP                                                             
09 AT THE TIME OF THE VACANCY, (1)] shall be a member of the same political                                                
10 party [OR POLITICAL GROUP] as that which nominated the predecessor in office,                                   
11 [;] and [(2)] shall be subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the                                      
12 legislature who are members of the same political party which nominated [OR                                         
13 POLITICAL GROUP AS] the predecessor in office and of the same house as was the                                          
14 predecessor in office. If the predecessor in office was not nominated by [A                                         
15 MEMBER OF] a political party or [POLITICAL GROUP AT THE TIME OF THE                                                     
16 VACANCY, OR,] if no other member of the predecessor's political party [OR                                               
17 POLITICAL GROUP] is a member of the predecessor's house of the legislature, the                                         
18 governor may appoint any qualified person. If the appointee is not a member of a                                        
19 political party [OR POLITICAL GROUP, AS PROVIDED IN (b) OF THIS                                                         
20 SECTION], the appointment is not subject to confirmation. If the appointee is a                                         
21 member of a political party [OR POLITICAL GROUP], the appointment is subject to                                         
22 confirmation as provided by [(b) OF] this section for the confirmation of political                                     
23       party [OR POLITICAL GROUP] appointees.                                                                          
24 (b)  A member of a political party [OR POLITICAL GROUP] is a person who                                                 
25 supports the political program of a [POLITICAL] party [OR POLITICAL GROUP].                                             
26 The filing for office of a candidate as an independent or no-party candidate                                        
27 [ABSENCE OF A POLITICAL PARTY OR POLITICAL GROUP DESIGNATION                                                            
28 AFTER A CANDIDATE'S NAME ON AN ELECTION BALLOT] does not preclude                                                       
29 a candidate from being a member of a political party [OR POLITICAL GROUP].                                              
30 Recognition of an independent or no-party [A] candidate as a member of a                                            
31 [POLITICAL] party [OR POLITICAL GROUP] caucus of members of the legislature                                             
01 at the legislative session following the election of the independent or no-party                                    
02 candidate is recognition of that person's [POLITICAL] party [OR POLITICAL                                               
03 GROUP] membership at the time filings were made by party candidates for the                                         
04 preceding general election [FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONFIRMATION UNDER                                                  
05       THIS SECTION].                                                                                                    
06    * Sec. 49. AS 15.40.380 is amended to read:                                                                        
07 Sec. 15.40.380. Conditions for part-term senate appointment and special                                               
08 election. If the vacancy is for an unexpired senate term of more than two years and                                   
09 five full calendar months, the governor shall call a special [PRIMARY ELECTION                                          
10 AND A SPECIAL] election by proclamation and the appointment shall expire on the                                         
11 date the state senate first convenes or reconvenes following the certification of the                                   
12       results of the special election by the director.                                                                
13    * Sec. 50. AS 15.40.390 is amended to read:                                                                        
14 Sec. 15.40.390. Date of special [PRIMARY ELECTION AND SPECIAL]                                                        
15 election. The special [PRIMARY] election to fill a vacancy in the state senate shall be                               
16 held on the date of the first general [PRIMARY] election held more than three full                              
17 calendar months [60 DAYS] after the senate vacancy occurs [, AND THE SPECIAL                                        
18 ELECTION SHALL BE HELD ON THE DATE OF THE FIRST GENERAL                                                                 
19       ELECTION THEREAFTER].                                                                                           
20    * Sec. 51. AS 15.40.400 is amended to read:                                                                        
21 Sec. 15.40.400. Proclamation of [SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION AND]                                                        
22 special election. The governor shall issue the proclamation calling the [SPECIAL                                      
23 PRIMARY ELECTION AND] special election at least 50 days before the [SPECIAL                                             
24       PRIMARY] election.                                                                                              
25    * Sec. 52. AS 15.40.440 is amended to read:                                                                        
26 Sec. 15.40.440. Requirements of petition for no-party candidates. Petitions                                         
27 for the nomination of candidates not representing a political party shall be signed                                 
28 by qualified voters equal in number to at least one percent of the number of                                        
29 voters who cast ballots in the proposed nominee's respective house or senate                                        
30 district in the preceding general election. A nominating petition may not contain                                   
31 less than 50 signatures for any district and must [BE EXECUTED UNDER                                                
01       OATH,] state in substance that which is required in petitions for nomination by                               
02       AS 15.25.181 [A DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY UNDER AS 15.25.030, AND                                              
03       INCLUDE THE FEE REQUIRED UNDER AS 15.25.050(a)].                                                                
04    * Sec. 53. AS 15.40 is amended by adding new sections to read:                                                     
05 Sec. 15.40.451. Requirements of petition by political party. Petitions for the                                        
06 nomination of candidates of political parties shall state in substance that the party                                   
07 desires and intends to support the named candidate for the office of state senator at the                               
08       special election and requests that the name of the candidate be placed on the ballot.                           
09            Sec. 15.40.461. Selection of political party nominees. The nominees of                                     
10 political parties may be selected by the respective party district committee or by any                                  
11 other manner as provided by the party bylaws, and the petition shall be signed by the                                   
12 chairperson of the party district committee or by any other party official designated by                                
13       the party bylaws.                                                                                                 
14    * Sec. 54. AS 15.40.470 is amended to read:                                                                        
15 Sec. 15.40.470. General provision for conduct of [THE SPECIAL                                                         
16 PRIMARY ELECTION AND] special election. Unless specifically provided                                                  
17 otherwise, all provisions regarding the conduct of the [PRIMARY ELECTION AND]                                           
18 general election shall govern the conduct of the special [PRIMARY ELECTION AND                                          
19 SPECIAL] election of state senators, including provisions concerning voter                                              
20 qualifications; provisions regarding the duties, powers, rights, and obligations of the                                 
21 director, of other election officials, and of municipalities; provision for notification of                             
22 the election; provision for payment of election expenses; provisions regarding                                          
23 employees being allowed time from work to vote; provisions for the counting,                                            
24 reviewing, and certification of returns; provisions for the determination of the votes                                  
25       and of recounts, contests, and appeal; and provision for absentee voting.                                       
26    * Sec. 55. AS 15.45.190 is amended to read:                                                                        
27 Sec. 15.45.190. Placing proposition on ballot. The lieutenant governor shall                                          
28 direct the director to place the ballot title and proposition on the election ballot of the                             
29 first statewide general, special, special runoff [PRIMARY], or primary election that is                             
30       held after                                                                                                      
31                 (1)  the petition has been filed;                                                                       
01                 (2)  a legislative session has convened and adjourned; and                                              
02                 (3)  a period of 120 days has expired since the adjournment of the                                      
03       legislative session.                                                                                              
04    * Sec. 56. AS 15.45.420 is amended to read:                                                                        
05 Sec. 15.45.420. Placing proposition on ballot. The lieutenant governor shall                                          
06 direct the director to place the ballot title and proposition on the election ballot for the                            
07 first statewide general, special, special runoff [PRIMARY], or primary election held                                
08 more than 180 days after adjournment of the legislative session at which the act was                                    
09       passed.                                                                                                         
10    * Sec. 57. AS 15.58.010 is amended to read:                                                                        
11 Sec. 15.58.010. Election pamphlet. Before each state general election, and                                            
12 before each state primary, special, or special runoff [PRIMARY] election at which a                                 
13 ballot proposition is scheduled to appear on the ballot, the lieutenant governor shall                                  
14 prepare, publish, and mail at least one election pamphlet to each household identified                                  
15 from the official registration list. The pamphlet shall be prepared on a regional basis as                              
16       determined by the lieutenant governor.                                                                          
17    * Sec. 58. AS 15.58.020(b) is amended to read:                                                                     
18 (b)  Each primary, special, or special runoff [PRIMARY] election pamphlet                                           
19 shall contain only the information specified in (a)(6) and (a)(9) of this section for each                              
20 ballot measure scheduled to appear on the primary, special, or special runoff                                       
21       [PRIMARY] election ballot.                                                                                        
22    * Sec. 59. AS 15.58.030(b) is amended to read:                                                                     
23 (b)  Not later than July 22 of a year in which a state general election will be                                         
24 held, an individual who becomes a candidate for the office of United States senator,                                    
25 United States representative, governor, lieutenant governor, state senator, or state                                    
26 representative under AS 15.25.030 or 15.25.181 may file with the lieutenant governor                                
27 a photograph and a statement advocating the candidacy. An individual who becomes                                    
28 a candidate for the office of United States senator, United States representative,                                  
29 governor, lieutenant governor, state senator, or state representative by party                                      
30 petition filed under AS 15.25.111 may file with the lieutenant governor a                                           
31 photograph and a statement advocating the candidacy within 10 days of                                               
01       becoming a candidate.                                                                                         
02    * Sec. 60. AS 15.80.010(9) is amended to read:                                                                     
03 (9)  "federal election" means a general, special, special runoff                                                    
04 [PRIMARY], or primary election held solely or in part for the purpose of selecting,                                     
05 nominating, or electing a candidate for the office of President, Vice-President,                                        
06       presidential elector, United States senator, or United States representative;                                     
07    * Sec. 61. AS 39.50.020(b) is amended to read:                                                                     
08            (b)  A public official or former public official other than an elected or                                    
09       appointed municipal officer shall file the statement with the Alaska Public Offices                               
10 Commission. Candidates for the office of governor and lieutenant governor and, if the                                   
11 candidate is not subject to AS 24.60, the legislature shall file the statement under                                    
12 AS 15.25.030 or 15.25.181. Municipal officers, former municipal officers, and                                       
13 candidates for elective municipal office shall file with the municipal clerk or other                                   
14 municipal official designated to receive their filing for office. All statements required                               
15       to be filed under this chapter are public records.                                                                
16    * Sec. 62. AS 15.15.025, 15.15.030(14), 15.15.030(15), 15.15.030(16), 15.15.030(17),                               
17 15.15.060(e), 15.15.350(c), 15.15.350(d), 15.15.350(e), 15.15.350(f), 15.15.350(g);                                     
18 AS 15.58.020(a)(13), 15.58.020(c); AS 15.80.008(a)(2), and 15.80.010(34) are repealed.