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HB 351                                                                                            
HOUSE BILL NO. 351 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                       
the Governor, entitled:                                                                             
                                                                                                    

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     "An Act creating the Alaska Youth Voter Corps and relating to                                  
     that corps; authorizing the members of the corps to be appointed                               
     to serve on election boards; relating to qualifications for                                    
     appointment to election boards; and providing for an effective                                 
     date."                                                                                         
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs Committee.                                
                                                                                                    
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                 
                                                                                                    
1.  Zero, Office of the Governor                                                                    
2.  Zero, Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development                                                    
                                                                                                    
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 21, 2002, appears                                   
below:                                                                                              
                                                                                                    
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                                               
                                                                                                    
The Youth Voter Corps bill I am transmitting today presents us with a                               
unique opportunity to enliven the interest of young people in the                                   
election process, and in their rights and responsibilities as citizens.                             
Introduced at the request of Lt. Governor Fran Ulmer and the Alaska                                 
Democracy Project task force, this bill allows high school students to                              
work at the polls during elections.                                                                 
                                                                                                    
The intent of the bill is threefold:                                                                
                                                                                                    
     · To increase young persons' awareness and interest in voting;                                 
     · To allow for meaningful student involvement in elections; and                                
     · To relieve the shortage of election workers.                                                 
                                                                                                    
Alaska Youth Voters Corps members, students age 16 or older, would                                  
be appointed and trained by an election supervisor and supervised by                                
an elections board chairperson.  The Ford-Carter Elections                                          
Commission supported this concept on a national level and almost a                                  
third of the states have legislation that allows for high school students                           
to work at the polls.                                                                               
                                                                                                    
The bill also amends the qualifications for appointment to a precinct                               
election board to remove the requirement that the appointee be                                      

2002-01-23                     House Journal                      Page 2042
registered to vote in that precinct.  This change would allow a                                     
qualified voter in the state, regardless of which precinct the voter is                             
registered in, to serve on any precinct's election board.  This would                               
give more flexibility to the election supervisor to find qualified                                  
candidates to serve this important function.                                                        
                                                                                                    
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                            
                                                                                                    
                                Sincerely,                                                         
                                /s/                                                                 
                                Tony Knowles                                                        
                                 Governor"