Legislature(2025 - 2026)GRUENBERG 120
03/10/2025 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s): Board of Governors of the Alaska Bar | |
| HB21 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 21-VOTER PREREGISTRATION FOR MINORS
1:37:26 PM
CHAIR GRAY announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 21, "An Act relating to voter preregistration for
minors at least 16 years of age; and relating to confidentiality
of voter registration and preregistration records of minors at
least 16 years of age." [Before the committee was CSHB
21(STA).]
1:37:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented CSHB 21(STA). She paraphrased the sponsor
statement [included in the committee packet], which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
House Bill 21 aims to engage future generations of
voters and help them become informed, confident,
active and voting citizens. As civic engagement with
our young people declines across the nation, the
concern increases for the health of our democracy.
This bill allows youth, who are aged 16, to
voluntarily preregister to vote. This puts them in
line to automatically be registered to vote, after
their residency has been confirmed, and they have
turned 18. Currently, Alaskans who are 17 can register
within 90 days of their 18th birthday. By lowering the
minimum age for preregistration to 16, we give young
Alaskans more time to understand the importance of the
voting process and develop the habits of engaged
voters.
Pre-registration is already in place in 23 states, and
it has led to higher voter turnout among young people.
In Alaska 82% of residents are registered voters,
however only 55% of those registered voters cast
ballots in the last general election. Studies show
that pre-registration increases civic engagement while
youth are waiting to vote, and increases voter turnout
when they become eligible.
This bill also importantly corrects a flaw in current
statute in order to ensure the privacy and safety of
individuals under the age of 18. Specifically, it
establishes that the address and telephone number of
any person under the age of 18 who registers or
preregisters to vote shall remain confidential and not
be subject to public inspection.
I respectfully request your support in the passage of
HB 21.
1:42:47 PM
HONOR MILLER-AUSTIN, Staff, Representative Andi Story, Alaska
State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Story, prime
sponsor, described the documents in the committee packet.
1:44:52 PM
MARIAN CLOUGH, Alaska League of Women Voters (LWV); Juneau
League of Women Voters (LWV), gave invited testimony in support
of HB 21. She shared her belief that HB 21 would encourage
civic engagement and participation. Preregistration supports
good voting habits by allowing young people to be involved in
civic education early when they have family support while still
living at home. She said the bill would help to eliminate
barriers to voting and encourage young people to realize they
have a voice while giving them the confidence and tools to
exercise their rights. She concluded with a historical
background on the LWV and its role today.
1:47:55 PM
MARA EARLY, representing self, gave invited testimony in support
of HB 21. She stated her strong support for voter
preregistration for minors because it would allow teenagers a
longer transition period and highlight the importance of voting
at a time they can focus on it, rather than during an
overwhelming time of transition at the age of 18. She opined
that allowing 16-year-olds to preregister would support a life
of voting in the future.
1:50:50 PM
CHAIR GRAY opened public testimony on HB 21.
1:51:18 PM
ALEX KOPLIN, Kenai Peninsula Votes, testified in support of HB
21, which he characterized as a great bill because it would
cover the young people who don't register for their annual PFD.
He pointed out that most 17-year-olds are getting ready for
their next adventure, and this is one less thing they would have
to do. He added that the bill would provide a hands-on
experience that is vital to civics education.
1:54:04 PM
CHAIR GRAY closed public testimony on HB 21.
1:54:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COSTELLO asked what would happen with the minor's
information after preregistering and whether it would be kept
private until they are of voting age.
1:55:09 PM
CAROL BEECHER, Director, Division of Elections (DOE), Office of
the Lieutenant Governor, assured the committee that the
information would be completely inaccessible to the public.
1:55:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE UNDERWOOD asked for the bill sponsor's vision for
implementation and whether teacher or administrators would be
giving guidance on party affiliation.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY said according to district policies,
teachers are supposed to be nonpartisan in their professional
work and if they do their job well, students do not know their
party affiliation. She said she envisioned teachers offering
hands on information in the classroom with regard to filling out
the voter registration form. She said in other states, this
policy has helped encourage parents and guardians to register to
vote.
1:58:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE UNDERWOOD sought clarification on how the minor's
voting status would be changed in DOE's system once they turn
18.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY stated that 45 days before the minor's 18th
birthday, the preregistered voter is in "pending" status at
which point a notice is mailed to the address on file to confirm
their home address.
th
MS. BEECHER confirmed that the minor's 18 birthday triggers the
mailed notice with request for response to confirm their home
address.
REPRESENTATIVE UNDERWOOD sought to confirm that the minor would
not become registered if they don't respond to the notice.
MS. BEECHER said that is correct.
1:59:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EISCHEID sought to clarify when the notice would
be mailed to the preregistered voter.
MS. BEECHER clarified that it would be mailed 90 days [before
th
their 18 birthday] to give the individual time to respond.
2:00:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COSTELLO asked how the proposed process would
differ from the current preregistration process.
MS. BEECHER said currently, 17-year-olds can preregister if they
will be 18 on or before election day. Once DOE confirms their
information, the individual is sent a registration card and
considered registered to vote at that time.
2:02:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked how DOE partners with school districts
and other entities on education and outreach to minors.
MS. BEECHER described the division's "youth at the booth"
program, which allows 16-year-olds to work the polls.
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asserted that most of the outreach is
currently conducted by nonprofits and civic education teachers.
MS. BEECHER answered in the affirmative.
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked how people would be educated on the
new process.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY said the bill would be a hands-on tool for
students and educators and spoke to existing outreach efforts by
the LWV.
2:05:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE UNDERWOOD asked how the bill would interact with
the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) automatic voter registration
(AVR) process.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY deferred to Director Beecher.
2:06:03 PM
MS. BEECHER said it would not interface with the AVR.
CHAIR GRAY announced that CSHB 21(STA) was held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 101 FN Court System.pdf |
HJUD 3/10/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 101 |
| HB 101 FN Admin Office of Public Advocacy.pdf |
HJUD 3/10/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 101 |
| HB 101 FN Admin Public Defender Agency.pdf |
HJUD 3/10/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 101 |
| HB 101 FN Department of Correctins.pdf |
HJUD 3/10/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 101 |
| HB 101 FN DPS Integrated Victim Assistance.pdf |
HJUD 3/10/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 101 |
| HB 101 FN Family and Community Services.pdf |
HJUD 3/10/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 101 |
| HB 101 FN Law Criminal Division.pdf |
HJUD 3/10/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 101 |
| HB 101 FN Troopers.pdf |
HJUD 3/10/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 101 |