05/04/1996 03:00 PM Senate FIN

                                                                               
  CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 211(FIN)                                               
                                                                               
       An  Act  relating to  voter  registration and  to state                 
       election administration.                                                
                                                                               
  Co-chairman Halford directed that CSHB  211 (Fin) be brought                 
  on for discussion.   PATTI  SWENSON, aide to  Representative                 
  Con Bunde,  came before committee.   She explained  that the                 
  purpose  of  the bill  is to  meet  the requirements  of the                 
  National  Voter  Registration  Act  of   1993.    It  allows                 
  individuals to register to  vote by fax, and it  removes the                 
  requirement  to   sign  an  oath   at  the  time   of  voter                 
  registration.   That also applies  to voters  re-registering                 
  after  a period  of  inactivity by  voting  a questioned  or                 
  absentee ballot.                                                             
                                                                               
  The legislation also  changes the composition of  the master                 
  register and requires prompt removal  of deceased voters and                 
  those  convicted of  a felony.   It improves  procedures for                 
  absentee and questioned ballot use, and clarifies ballot and                 
  envelope descriptions.  It  prevents the possible perception                 
  of  a  less than  impartial data  review board  by excluding                 
  state  employees, and it broadens who  can serve on district                 
  counting boards.  The bill  further clarifies tabulation and                 
  security when counting votes and reflects the increased cost                 
  of providing voters with printed election materials.                         
                                                                               
  CSHB 211 (Fin) is  a combination of HB 349 and  SB 182, both                 
  of which had  committee hearings and passed  from committee,                 
  without amendments, accompanied by zero fiscal notes.                        
                                                                               
  Senator  Sharp  MOVED  for  adoption  of  SCS  CSHB 211  (9-                 
  LS0616\Z,  Chenoweth, 4/22/96),   No  objection having  been                 
  raised, SCS CSHB 211 (Fin) was ADOPTED.                                      
                                                                               
  Ms.  Swenson  addressed  three  changes to  be  made  in the                 
  adopted  draft.    She  directed  attention  to  a  proposed                 
  amendment and noted  need to change terminology  from "voter                 
  registration lists" to "master register"  at Page 4, line 2.                 
  She explained that  the master  register would contain  both                 
  active and inactive voters.                                                  
                                                                               
                                                                               
  DIANE  SHRINER,  Division of  Elections,  Office of  the Lt.                 
  Governor,  spoke  to   the  second  item  of   the  proposed                 
  amendment.  She explained that  when Alaska gains compliance                 
  with federal law, the state will not purge voters until they                 
  have  been  inactive for  four years.    At that  point, the                 
  individuals will receive  notice which  allows them time  to                 
  reactivate, if they wish to do so.  Thereafter, they will be                 
  removed  from  the rolls  four years  from  the date  of the                 
  notice if they do not initiate reactivation.                                 
                                                                               
  Ms. Swenson referenced  the third area for  correction (Page                 
  9, Line 3) and  advised of need to delete "oath"  and insert                 
  "declaration."                                                               
                                                                               
  Senator Randy Phillips MOVED for  adoption of the three-item                 
  amendment.  No  objection having been raised,  the Amendment                 
  was ADOPTED.   Senator Sharp MOVED  for passage of SCS  CSHB
 (Fin)  with individual recommendations  and accompanying                 
  fiscal notes.  No objection having been raised, SCS CSHB 211                 
  (Fin) was REPORTED OUT of committee with a $32.2 fiscal note                 
  from  the  Division  of Elections.    Co-chairman  Frank and                 
  Senators Phillips,  Rieger, and  Sharp signed the  committee                 
  report with a "do pass" recommendation.  Co-chairman Halford                 
  and Senators Donley and  Zharoff signed "no recommendation."