Legislature(2025 - 2026)
2026-05-01 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2026-05-01 Senate Journal Page 2427 SB 64 Letter dated April 29 was received: Dear President Stevens: Under the authority vested in me by Article II, Section 15 of the Alaska Constitution, I have vetoed the following bill: HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 64(FIN) am H "An Act relating to elections; relating to voters; relating to voting; relating to voter registration; relating to election administration; relating to campaign contributions; relating to write- in candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States; relating to the crimes of unlawful interference with voting in the first degree, unlawful interference with an election, and election official misconduct; relating to voter registration on permanent fund dividend applications; relating to the duties of the commissioner of revenue; and providing for an effective date." Senate Bill 64 includes several provisions I support, including improving safeguards around Permanent Fund Dividend voter- registration data; strengthening voter-roll maintenance, audit, and reporting requirements; and requiring notice of breaches involving confidential election data. However, taken as a whole, the bill would impose significant operational burdens on the administration of Alaska’s elections during an election year in which several statewide contests will occur – including U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and Governor. The Division of 2026-05-01 Senate Journal Page 2428 Elections warns such changes would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to implement securely and reliably in advance of the 2026 elections. Alaskans need an election process that is simple, understandable, secure, and implemented with sufficient time for the Division to make necessary changes. The ballot-tracking and ballot-curing provisions are especially problematic. The ballot-curing provisions create tension with Alaska’s witness requirement by allowing a voter to cure a missing witness signature after the ballot has already been returned, even though Alaska’s absentee-ballot framework requires the voter’s certificate to be signed in the presence of a qualified attesting official or witness. The Division has advised that these systems cannot be responsibly built, tested, and deployed before the 2026 general election. I applaud the attempt by some in the legislature, through an amendment, to move the effective date in which this bill would take effect after the 2026 election, which would have given the Division adequate time to implement the systems this bill would require. I appreciate the efforts made to improve Alaska’s elections. Going forward, I encourage those who wish to continue this work to use this bill as a starting point; ensure that any proposed changes comply with state and federal law; and pass any election legislation on a timeline that allows the Division of Elections to implement the necessary systems properly. It is essential that Alaska’s electoral process remains accessible and secure, backed by a commitment to careful management. This bill would make significant election changes during an active election cycle, raising material operational and legal concerns that are contrary to the best interests of Alaskans. For these reasons, I have vetoed this bill. Sincerely, /s/ Mike Dunleavy Governor