Legislature(2025 - 2026)GRUENBERG 120
03/17/2025 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB21 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 97 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 21-VOTER PREREGISTRATION FOR MINORS
1:02:28 PM
CHAIR GRAY announced that the only 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).]
1:03:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COSTELLO asked how many 17-year-olds are pre-
registered to vote.
1:03:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, Alaska State Legislature, directed
the question to Ms. Thompson.
1:03:47 PM
MICHAELA THOMPSON, Division Operations Manager, Division of
Elections (DOE), Office of the Lieutenant Governor, did not know
the answer; however, she said it is not a large number of
voters.
1:04:17 PM
CHAIR GRAY invited the bill sponsor to give closing comments on
the bill.
1:04:25 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY said she viewed the bill as a civics
education bill, and a bill to encourage young people to talk
about the responsibility of voting. She opined that 16 is a
much better age to register to vote with the help of teachers
and trusted adults because senior year is an intense time where
kids are thinking about their postsecondary plans and ending a
chapter of life. She added that the bill has a fiscal note that
accounts for the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
preregistration. She reminded the committee that DOE would put
those who pre-register into a pending status and send a notice
th
90 days before their 18 birthday to confirm their Alaska
residency. If the notice is returned, a voter registration card
would be sent to the voter. She said research has shown that
voting early is more likely to establish a lifelong habit, which
the bill hopes to encourage.
1:07:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP asked whether anything in the bill changes
existing identification or residency requirements, or whether it
simply changes the age of preregistration.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY confirmed that everything would still need
to be verified and follow existing voter registration
requirements.
1:08:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP moved to report CSHB 21(STA) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 21(STA) was
reported from the House Judiciary Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|