2001-03-15                     Senate Journal                      Page 0676
SB 146                                                                                            
SENATE BILL NO. 146 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                   
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                               
                                                                                                    
                "An Act relating to the primary election; and                                      
          providing for an effective date."                                                         
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs, Judiciary and                            
Finance Committees.                                                                                 
                                                                                                    
Fiscal note information forthcoming.                                                              
                                                                                                    
Governor's transmittal letter dated March 14:                                                       
                                                                                                    
Dear President Halford:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
The United States Supreme Court decision California Democratic                                    
Party v. Jones requires states to recognize a political party's First                             
Amendment rights in determining which voters may participate in                                     
nominating its party candidates for placement on general election                                   
ballots. This bill that I transmit today implements the findings of the                             
primary election task force that the lieutenant governor convened to                                
respond to this court decision.                                                                     
                                                                                                    
The bill requires political parties to notify the division of elections by                          
September 1 of the year preceding a primary election if they choose to                              
not participate in a blanket primary. If a party fails to submit its party                          
primary preference to the division of elections by this deadline, the                               
party's candidates will appear on the blanket primary ballot.                                       
                                                                                                    
The bill provides for the primary ballot to be designed as a blanket                                
ballot. However, if a political party chooses to exclude voters not                                 
registered with its party from participating in their primary election,                             
then a ballot listing appropriate candidates would be prepared for that                             
party.                                                                                              
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    

2001-03-15                     Senate Journal                      Page 0677
It is important to all Alaska voters that the legislature adopts a new                              
primary election system this session, in time to conduct the next                                   
primary election in an orderly and efficient manner consistent with this                            
court decision.                                                                                     
                                                                                                    
       Sincerely,                                                                                   
       /s/                                                                                          
       Tony Knowles                                                                                 
       Governor