2005-01-19                     Senate Journal                      Page 0090
SB 66                                                                                             
SENATE BILL NO. 66 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                    
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                               
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    

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             "An Act relating to absentee voting by mail or                                         
             electronic transmission; relating to unlawful                                          
             interference with an election; relating to election                                    
             recounts; and providing for an effective date."                                        
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Judiciary                             
Committees.                                                                                         
                                                                                                    
The following fiscal information was published today:                                               
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Law                                                         
 Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Office of the Governor                                                    
                                                                                                    
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 18:                                                     
                                                                                                    
Dear President Stevens:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am                          
transmitting a bill relating to absentee voting by mail or electronic                               
transmission, to unlawful interference with an election, and to election                            
recounts.                                                                                           
                                                                                                    
Sections 2, 3, and 5 of the bill are designated as the Absentee Voter                               
Protection Act of 2005.  Section 2 of the bill would amend                                          
AS 15.20.081(a) to make it clear that a voter applying by mail or by                                
electronic transmission for an absentee ballot must submit the                                      
application directly to the Division of Elections.  This would eliminate                            
the possibility of interest groups soliciting applications for absentee                             
ballots and selectively submitting applications to the division.  Section                           
3 of the bill would amend AS 15.20.081(b) to require that the Division                              
of Elections receive the application not less than ten days before the                              
election for which the absentee ballot is sought.  Presently, the statute                           
requires that applications be received not less than seven days before                              
the election.  The earlier deadline should provide more time for the                                
absentee ballot to reach the voter.                                                                 
                                                                                                    
Section 5 of the bill would amend AS 15.56.060 to include among the                                 
activities constituting unlawful interference with an election (a class C                           
felony) intentionally changing, attempting to change, or causing to be                              
changed, an absentee ballot application prepared by another person                                  
without authorization by the person.                                                                

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This bill also would increase the amount of the deposit to be posted for                            
certain election recounts and would require certain recount applicants                              
to bear the entire cost of the recount.  See section 4 of the bill.                                 
                                                                                                    
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                            
                                                                                                    
Sincerely yours,                                                                                    
/s/                                                                                                 
Frank H. Murkowski                                                                                  
Governor