2018-02-16                     House Journal                      Page 2449
HB 352                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 352 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to voter registration; and providing for an                                                               
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                

2018-02-16                     House Journal                      Page 2450
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance                                                           
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Zero, Office of the Governor                                                                                                
2.  Fiscal, Dept. of Revenue                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 15 follows:                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Edgmon:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to voter registration and                                                       
Permanent Fund Dividend applications.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
This bill would make clarifying amendments to the voter registration                                                            
and Permanent Fund Dividend application statutes amended in 2016                                                                
by ballot measure 15PFVR, which created a process for Alaskans to                                                               
register to vote using their Permanent Fund Dividend application. The                                                           
bill would clarify that the Director of the Division of Elections must                                                          
treat eligible Permanent Fund Dividend applicants as a new or updated                                                           
voter registrations, unless an applicant declines to provide the statutory                                                      
required information for voter registration.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The bill would also specify that the Director will process the                                                                  
registration information received and notify the applicant of his or her                                                        
registration status. Finally, the bill would make harmonizing                                                                   
amendments to AS 43.23.016 governing record sharing procedures                                                                  
from the Commissioner of the Department of Revenue to the Director                                                              
of the Division of Elections. If passed, this bill would save an                                                                
estimated $200,000 annually in mailing costs and efficiencies such as                                                           
fully automating the voter registration process and reducing paper                                                              
transactions.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Bill Walker                                                                                                                     
Governor"