Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2025-05-12 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2025-05-12 Senate Journal Page 1228 SB 64 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 64(FIN) "An Act relating to elections; relating to voters; relating to voting; relating to voter registration; relating to election administration; relating to the Alaska Public Offices Commission; relating to campaign contributions; relating to the crimes of unlawful interference with voting in the first degree, unlawful interference with an election, and election official misconduct; relating to synthetic media in electioneering communications; relating to campaign signs; relating to voter registration on permanent fund dividend applications; relating to the Redistricting Board; relating to the duties of the commissioner of revenue; and providing for an effective date" was read the third time. Senator Wielechowski moved the bill be returned to second reading for all amendments offered today. Without objection, the bill was returned to second reading. Senator Wielechowski offered Amendment No. 1 : Page 5, line 12, following "state;": Insert "or" Page 5, line 27, following "cancelled;": Insert "or" Page 5, lines 28 - 29: Delete all material. Reletter the following subparagraph accordingly. Page 6, lines 1 - 2: Delete ", or provides an incomplete or ambiguous response," Page 8, line 12: Delete "or (E)" Page 8, lines 18 - 22: Delete all material. Senator Wielechowski moved for the adoption of Amendment No. 1. Senator Myers, objected, then withdrew his objection. There being no further objection, Amendment No. 1 was adopted. 2025-05-12 Senate Journal Page 1229 Senator Wielechowski offered Amendment No. 2 : Page 15, following line 18: Insert new bill sections to read: "* Sec. 26. AS 15.20.072(c) is amended to read: (c) A representative requesting a special needs ballot shall provide current and valid photo identification card or an identification card issued by a federally recognized tribe and sign a register provided by an election official. The register must require that the representative provide the representative's printed name, the name of the authority that issued the provided identification card, the type of provided identification card, the number associated with the provided identification card, the representative's phone number if available, the representative's electronic mail address if available, the name of the voter who requested the special needs ballot, and the dates on which the specials needs ballot is provided to the representative and returned to the division. The election official shall verify that the representative's name, and, if applicable, likeness, match the provided identification card by signing or initialing the register. After the election official signs or initials the register, the election official shall explain to the representative the duties of a representative and a voter under (d) of this section and give the representative an envelope that includes a printed record of information required to be filled out by the representative. An election official may not issue the special needs ballot until the representative has provided the information required on the record. The record [IF THE REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL NEEDS BALLOT IS MADE THROUGH A REPRESENTATIVE, THE REPRESENTATIVE SHALL SIGN A REGISTER PROVIDED BY AN ELECTION OFFICIAL. THE REGISTER] must include the following information: (1) the representative's name; (2) the representative's residence and mailing address; (3) the representative's social security number, voter identification number, or date of birth; (4) the name of the voter on whose behalf the representative is requesting a ballot and voting materials; (5) an oath that the representative 2025-05-12 Senate Journal Page 1230 (A) is receiving a ballot and voting materials on behalf of the voter; (B) will not vote the ballot for the voter; (C) will not coerce the voter; (D) will not divulge the vote cast by the voter; and (E) has been notified that unlawful interference with voting is punishable under AS 15.56.030; (6) the representative's signature. * Sec. 27. AS 15.20.072(d) is amended to read: (d) The representative shall deliver the special needs ballot, envelope, secrecy sleeve, and other voting materials provided by the division to the voter as soon as practicable. The voter shall mark the ballot in secret, place the ballot in the secrecy sleeve, and place the secrecy sleeve in the envelope [PROVIDED]. The voter shall provide the information on the envelope that would be required for absentee voting if the voter voted in person. The voter shall sign the voter's certificate in the presence of the representative. The representative shall sign as attesting official and date the voter's signature." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 15, line 19: Delete "a new subsection" Insert "new subsections" Page 15, lines 20 - 23: Delete all material and insert: "(h) If a qualified voter satisfies the requirements of (d) of this section, the division may not reject the voter's special needs ballot based on an error by an election official or a representative. If the circumstances show evidence of unlawful interference or misconduct, a special needs ballot may be held for further review. (i) The director shall train each absentee voting official, election supervisor, and member of a precinct election board on the requirements of this section." Page 31, line 25: Delete "sec. 40" Insert "sec. 41" 2025-05-12 Senate Journal Page 1231 Page 31, line 26: Delete "sec. 41" Insert "sec. 43" Page 31, lines 25 - 26: Delete "sec. 42" Insert "sec. 44" Senator Wielechowski moved for the adoption of Amendment No. 2. Senator Shower objected, then withdrew his objection. Senator Hughes objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 2 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSSB 64(FIN) am Second Reading Amendment No. 2? YEAS: 17 NAYS: 3 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Bjorkman, Claman, Cronk, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Olson, Shower, Stedman, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski, Yundt Nays: Hughes, Kaufman, Myers and so, Amendment No. 2 was adopted. CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 64(FIN) am was automatically in third reading. The question being: "Shall CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 64(FIN) am "An Act relating to elections; relating to voters; relating to voting; relating to voter registration; relating to election administration; relating to the Alaska Public Offices Commission; relating to campaign contributions; relating to the crimes of unlawful interference with voting in the first degree, unlawful interference with an election, and election official misconduct; relating to synthetic media in electioneering communications; relating to campaign signs; relating to 2025-05-12 Senate Journal Page 1232 voter registration on permanent fund dividend applications; relating to the Redistricting Board; relating to the duties of the commissioner of revenue; and providing for an effective date" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSSB 64(FIN) am Third Reading - Final Passage Effective Date(s) YEAS: 14 NAYS: 6 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Bjorkman, Claman, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Olson, Stedman, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski Nays: Cronk, Hughes, Kaufman, Myers, Shower, Yundt and so, CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 64(FIN) am passed the Senate. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the vote on the passage of the bill be considered the vote on the effective date clause(s). Without objection, it was so ordered and the bill was referred to the Secretary for engrossment.