00                            SENATE BILL NO. 178                                                                         
01 "An Act relating to absentee voting; and providing for an effective date."                                              
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1. AS 15.20.081 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                           
04 (m)  An absentee ballot application must include an option for a qualified voter                                        
05 to choose to receive absentee ballots by mail for state elections. The division may not                                 
06 require a voter who chooses this option to reapply for an absentee ballot by mail                                       
07       unless                                                                                                            
08                 (1)  the voter has not voted an absentee ballot for a period of four years;                             
09       or                                                                                                                
10                 (2)  a previous absentee ballot sent to the voter by the division under                                 
11       this section was returned to the division as undeliverable.                                                       
12    * Sec. 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2023.