Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

01/30/2025 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ SB 64 ELECTIONS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
*+ SB 70 SCHOOL&ELECTION BDS; VOTING; ELECTIONS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
*+ SB 52 ABSENTEE BALLOTS TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
Uniform Rule 23(a) Waived
*+ HJR 4 RES. TO MAINTAIN DENALI AS OFFICIAL NAME TELECONFERENCED
<Pending Introduction & Referral>
Uniform Rule 23(a) Waived
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
         SB  70-SCHOOL&ELECTION BDS; VOTING; ELECTIONS                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:01:00 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  KAWASAKI   reconvened  the  meeting.  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration of SENATE BILL NO.  70 "An Act relating to regional                                                               
educational  attendance area  elections;  relating  to terms  for                                                               
members of  regional school boards; relating  to voter residence;                                                               
relating  to voter  registration;  relating to  the inclusion  of                                                               
voter   registration    forms   in   permanent    fund   dividend                                                               
applications;  relating to  election administration;  relating to                                                               
ballot counting;  relating to absentee voting;  relating to early                                                               
voting; relating  to voting by  mail; relating to  publication of                                                               
election pamphlets;  and relating to confidential  information in                                                               
voter registration records."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:01:44 PM                                                                                                                    
CAROL  BEECHER, Director,  Division of  Elections, Office  of the                                                               
Lieutenant Governor, Anchorage, Alaska,  presented an overview of                                                               
SB 70. She moved to slide 2.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                 Division of Elections Mission                                                                                
                                                                                                                              
     To ensure  public confidence  in the  electoral process                                                                    
     by administering voter  registration and elections with                                                                    
     the   highest   level    of   professional   standards,                                                                    
     integrity, security, accuracy, and fairness.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:04:01 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 3, and paraphrased the following:                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA) Elections                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
        • Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA)  an                                                                       
          educational area that is established in an                                                                            
          unorganized borough of the state                                                                                      
        • Each REAA is governed by a locally elected                                                                            
          regional school board                                                                                                 
        • REAA elections are held annually                                                                                      
        • DOE oversees the entire election process for                                                                          
          REAAs,   including    candidate   filings,   voter                                                                    
          information dissemination, and  the conduct of the                                                                    
          elections themselves                                                                                                  
        • SB 70 proposes to shift REAA elections to occur                                                                       
          biennially in odd-numbered  years and change board                                                                    
          members' terms                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     MS. BEECHER stated  that the process will  be implemented in                                                               
     stages. She emphasized that anyone  currently holding a seat                                                               
     will retain it.  As each term expires, that seat  will be up                                                               
     for election to a four-year term.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:04:59 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 4, and spoke about the following:                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
       Residence of Voter AS 15.05.020                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
        • The residence of a person is that place in which                                                                      
          the person's  habitation is  fixed, and  to which,                                                                    
          whenever absent,  the person has the  intention to                                                                    
          return                                                                                                                
        • A change of residence is made only by the act of                                                                      
          removal  joined  with  the  intent  to  remain  in                                                                    
          another place                                                                                                         
        • A person does not lose residence if the person                                                                        
          leaves home  and goes  to another  country, state,                                                                    
          or  place in  this  state  for temporary  purposes                                                                    
          only and with the intent of returning                                                                                 
        • A person does not gain residence in any place to                                                                      
          which  the   person  comes  without   the  present                                                                    
          intention  to establish  a  permanent dwelling  at                                                                    
          that place                                                                                                            
        • SB 70 proposes to remove the "intent to return"                                                                       
          language  for purposes  of  determining a  voter's                                                                    
          residence                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:06:32 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 5, and spoke about the following:                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
       PFD Automatic Voter Registration                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
        • Beginning in 2016, eligible PFD applicants who                                                                        
          otherwise    meet    voter   qualifications    are                                                                    
          automatically registered to vote                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
        • The PFD division sends this information to DOE                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
        • DOE sends notices to all applicants who will                                                                          
          either become newly registered voters or will                                                                         
          have their Alaska residence address updated from                                                                      
          their PFD application                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
        • Applicants must respond within 30 days to opt                                                                         
          out; if not, they are automatically registered to                                                                     
          vote                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
        • Newly registered voters will be registered as                                                                         
          undeclared                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
        • All voters who are newly registered or have                                                                           
          updated their address will receive a new voter                                                                        
          card in the mail                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
        • SB 70 proposes to eliminate PFD automatic voter                                                                       
          registration                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:07:21 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BEECHER moved  to slide 6, PFD  Automatic Voter Registration,                                                               
and  stated that  the date  shows the  annual cost  to the  state                                                               
since the program's implementation in  2017. She said the cost to                                                               
administer the  program continues  to rise,  while the  number of                                                               
new voters who vote as a result of the service remains very low.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:07:51 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON   asked  what  percentage  of   voters  are                                                               
registered to vote  through the PFD program. She  stated that she                                                               
was  concerned   that  taking  away   the  PFD   automatic  voter                                                               
registration program will limit the amount of people that vote.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:08:30 PM                                                                                                                    
MS.  BEECHER  replied that  footnotes  [on  the website]  provide                                                               
clarity to data on the chart as follows:                                                                                        
Existing  Voters 1  - voters  sent notices  after changing  their                                                               
Alaska address                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Existing Voters  2 -  voters returned the  notice to  decline the                                                               
address change                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Existing Voters 3 - voters already registered in Alaska                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
New Voters Who Voted 4 - voters that were new who voted                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS.  BEECHER added  that Ambiguous  Voters are  voters that  have                                                               
unclear  information such  as similar  names  or addresses.  When                                                               
information is  ambiguous the  department sends  the voter  a new                                                               
registrant opt-out notice.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:09:45 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 7, and spoke about the following:                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Voter Registration List Maintenance                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     FIRST NOTICE                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
        • At least once a year, DOE reviews the statewide                                                                       
          voter registration list and sends notices by non-                                                                     
          forwardable mail requesting confirmation or                                                                           
          correction to all voters:                                                                                             
             -  Whose  mail   from  the  division  has  been                                                                    
             returned to the division  in the last two years                                                                    
             -  Who have not  contacted the division  in the                                                                    
             last two years, or                                                                                                 
             - Who have not voted or appeared to vote in                                                                        
             the last two general elections                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     SECOND NOTICE                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
        • DOE sends a second notice by forwardable mail to                                                                      
          the voter's last known address if:                                                                                    
           - The first notice is returned as undeliverable,                                                                     
           and the voter has not, within the preceding four                                                                     
           years                                                                                                                
              -Contacted DOE, or                                                                                                
              -Voted or appeared to vote in any election                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
        • The second notice states that the voter's                                                                             
          registration will be inactivated unless the voter                                                                     
          responds to the notice within 45 days.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS BEECHER said voters are inactivated for the following                                                                        
reasons:                                                                                                                        
        • Registration in another state                                                                                         
        • Felony conviction in Alaska of moral turpitude                                                                        
        • Written request                                                                                                       
        • Death                                                                                                                 
        • Through the division list maintenance process                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:10:59 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 8, and read the following:                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
       Voter Registration List Maintenance                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
       SB 70 proposes to:                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
        • Eliminate the step of sending the first notice                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
        • Add two additional conditions prompting notice to                                                                     
          voters who, in the two years, immediately                                                                             
          preceding the review of the voter registration                                                                        
          list                                                                                                                  
           - Became ineligible to receive a PFD, or                                                                             
           - Received a driver's license in another state                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
        • These changes will make the list maintenance                                                                          
          process more efficient and timelier.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:11:43 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 9, and spoke about the following:                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Early Voting Timeframes                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
        • Currently:                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
            - Early Voting takes place 15 days before an                                                                        
              election   and   on  election   day  only   at                                                                    
              locations with  a secure connection to the DOE                                                                    
              Voter   Registration  &   Election  Management                                                                    
              System                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
            - Early Votes are sequestered once the polling                                                                      
              place registers are printed                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
            - Sequestered Early Votes are reviewed by                                                                           
              election boards before they are counted                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
        • SB 70 ends Early Voting five days before election                                                                     
          day                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
            - This minimizes the possibility for a voter to                                                                     
              double-vote                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
            - Voters may still vote absentee in person and                                                                      
              special needs ballots during this timeframe                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:13:20 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 10, and spoke about the following:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Ballot Receipt Timeframes                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
        • Currently, all ballots returned by mail must be                                                                       
          postmarked on or before the date of the election                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
           - Primary Election ballots must be received no                                                                       
             later than the 10th day after the election                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
           - General Election ballots must be received no                                                                       
             later  than  the 10th  day  after the  election                                                                    
             when   mailed   within   the   U.S.   and   its                                                                    
             territories  and  no later  than  the 15th  day                                                                    
             after  the election  when  mailed from  outside                                                                    
             the U.S.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
        • SB 70 proposes that all ballots be received on or                                                                     
          before election day to allow for more immediate                                                                       
          results, increase administrative efficiency, and                                                                      
          bolster public confidence                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:14:21 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 11, and spoke about the following:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     By-Mail Voting                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
        • SB 70 proposes to expand options for by-mail                                                                          
          elections by allowing them to be held in                                                                              
          communities with populations of 750 or less                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
        • All registered voters in a by-mail community will                                                                     
          receive a ballot, eliminating the requirement for                                                                     
          registered voters to request an absentee ballot                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
        • This can benefit communities where polling                                                                            
          locations and poll workers are challenging to                                                                         
          secure                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:15:05 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 12, and spoke about the following:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Official Election Pamphlet (OEP)                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
        • DOE prints and mails official election pamphlets                                                                      
          to each registered voter household before:                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
           - Each state general election, and                                                                                   
           - Each state primary, special, or special primary                                                                    
             election at which a ballot proposition is scheduled                                                                
             to appear on the ballot                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
        • 2024 Costs: $844,855 to print and mail the OEP                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
        • SB 70 proposes to remove the requirement to mail                                                                      
          the OEP to save costs and reduce waste                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. BEECHER stated that the OEP will be available online.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:15:55 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 13, and spoke about the following:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Addition Changes Proposed by SB 70                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
        • Eliminates the size and number specifications for                                                                     
          voting booths                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
        • Removes the requirement that compensation for                                                                         
          Election    Board   Members    be   set    through                                                                    
          administrative regulations                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
        • Provides for postage-paid return envelopes                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
        • Prohibits rejection of Special Needs ballots due                                                                      
          to a mistake made by a representative                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
        • Expands the definition of "mail service" to                                                                           
          include delivery of materials by optical scanning                                                                     
          and email                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
        • Allows the Absentee Review Boards to begin                                                                            
          reviewing   absentee    certificates   (envelopes)                                                                    
          sooner                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
        • Removes the requirement to count late-arriving                                                                        
          ballots during a recount                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:18:12 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  YUNDT asked  how many  states participate  in Electronic                                                               
Registration Information Center (ERIC).                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:18:30 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. BEECHER guessed 24 or 25 states.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR YUNDT asked  when the piece of legislation  would need to                                                               
pass a bill for it to apply to next year's election.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS. BEECHER  answered that the  legislature would need to  pass a                                                               
bill during the  current session for the legislation  to apply to                                                               
the 2026 election.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR YUNDT  stated he  is opposed  to removing  five-day early                                                               
voting. He  asked whether people  are double voting and  how many                                                               
are there.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. BEECHER  responded she  doesn't know  how many  people double                                                               
vote but  when the  Division of Elections  sees evidence  of such                                                               
activity, it  refers the matter  to the Department of  Law. Early                                                               
votes are  sequestered to prevent  this, but that it  also delays                                                               
counting until voter history is verified.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
        INVITED AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY FOR SB 64 and SB 70                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:22:09 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced invited testimony on SB 64 and SB 70.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:23:12 PM                                                                                                                    
JAN HARDY,  President, American Federation  of State,  County and                                                               
Municipal   Employees  (AFSCME)   Retirees,  Anchorage,   Alaska,                                                               
testified  by  invitation on  SB  64.  She said  AFSCME  strongly                                                               
supports four issues of SB 64. She stated them as follows:                                                                      
   • targeted voter cleanup is essential for maintaining a clean                                                                
     and accurate voting system.                                                                                                
   • create a more secure, modern, and transparent election                                                                     
     process.                                                                                                                   
   • current witness signature requirement.                                                                                     
   • voter registration reforms                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:25:52 PM                                                                                                                    
KENDRA   KLOSTER,   Director,    Government   Relations,   Alaska                                                               
Federation of Natives, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by                                                                          
invitation on SB 64 and paraphrased the following:                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
[original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The Alaska  Federation of Natives (AFN)  is the largest                                                                    
     statewide  Native organization  in  Alaska including  a                                                                    
     membership  of  174  federally recognized  Tribes,  154                                                                    
     village  corporations, 9  regional  corporations and  9                                                                    
     regional nonprofit and Tribal consortiums.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     In 2024's  general election, 512 ballots  were rejected                                                                    
     due to missing signatures at a rate of 8 percent.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Districts 38,  39, and 40  suffered the  highest number                                                                    
     of rejected ballots  due to the witness  provision at a                                                                    
     rate of 14 percent                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:26:32 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. KLOSTER continued with her testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     I want  to highlight  some important voting  reforms we                                                                    
     need to pass this year:                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
        • Rural Liaisons  we need more assistance in rural                                                                    
          Alaska during elections and  ahead of elections to                                                                    
          ensure  all our  communities have  the information                                                                    
          and equipment they need to  run elections. We have                                                                    
          had  issues  every   year  in  communities  across                                                                    
          Alaska   and while  our organizations like AFN are                                                                    
          able and willing  to help, and we  do partner with                                                                    
          DOE and talked with  them through the election AFN                                                                    
          has  always been  a strong  supporter of  ensuring                                                                    
          every Alaskan    rural and  urban - have  the same                                                                    
          opportunities to make their  voices count in every                                                                    
          election.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
        • Stats for Voting:                                                                                                   
                -In 2022's all VBM special primary, 7,500                                                                       
                ballots were rejected for the following                                                                         
                reasons:                                                                                                        
                 -No witness signature 2724                                                                                     
                 -Ballot postmarked after election day 1897                                                                     
                 -No identifier provided 1556 rural Alaska                                                                      
                lack postal services and limited post office                                                                    
                hours.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
        • Ballot Curing  more than 30 states have a ballot                                                                    
          curing provision, we  understand that mistakes can                                                                    
          happen  and  allowing   voters  to  correct  those                                                                    
          mistakes and  allow their ballot to  be counted is                                                                    
          the  fair way  to address  this. Just  tossing out                                                                    
          their ballot is not serving Alaskans.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
        • Removing   Witness   Signature       in   multiple                                                                  
          hearings,  including  one  in state  affairs  just                                                                    
          this  year, it  was  stated that  the division  of                                                                    
          elections  does not  verify witness  signatures on                                                                    
          the ballot, yet hundreds  of voters have had their                                                                    
          ballots  discarded.  This  is  silencing  Alaskans                                                                    
          voice over a  policy that is not  even reviewed or                                                                    
          followed  in  any  particular  manner.  The  voter                                                                    
          already  signs their  ballot  stating  they are  a                                                                    
          resident and are allowed to vote.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:28:16 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. KLOSTER continued with her written testimony.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
        • Electronic Signature  this is a provision that                                                                      
          has been  worked on with other  division directors                                                                    
          to  get included  to  remove  additional steps  to                                                                    
          register to vote.  At this time, those  who have a                                                                    
          DL or  ID through  DMV they  can register  and use                                                                    
          electronic signatures  on file, but if  you do not                                                                    
          have a DL or ID  then additional steps of printing                                                                    
          off the  forms, signing and mailing  back in. Many                                                                    
         places in rural AK do not have access to DMV.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
        • Language Access  Alaska has some of the most                                                                        
          diverse districts  in the  nation, and  many parts                                                                    
          of  Alaska  where  English   is  not  the  primary                                                                    
          language which includes  a large Yupik population.                                                                    
          We must  ensure additional  measures are  taken to                                                                    
          strengthen language  assistance and  we appreciate                                                                    
          the  bill recognizes  this and  hope  we can  work                                                                    
          with DOE to ensure more measures are taken.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
        • Same Day Voter Registration                                                                                         
                                                                                                                              
        • Permanent Absentee Voting  this is a way to                                                                         
          remove  unnecessary  application for  an  absentee                                                                    
          ballot each year  as many voters may  vote by mail                                                                    
          each  year,  and  the   provision  already  has  a                                                                    
          safeguard  to ensure  that voters  do not  stay on                                                                    
          this list if they stop voting.                                                                                        
        • Ballot Drop Boxes  increasing access, more ways                                                                     
          to  drop  ballots  off  securely,  and  making  it                                                                    
          easier for voters.                                                                                                  
     I would  like to  caution legislators on  measures that                                                                    
     will limit voting access  especially thinking about the                                                                    
     challenges  in  rural  Alaska, some  of  these  include                                                                    
     (which are included in the governor's bill):                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
        • Not allowing ballots to be counted after election                                                                   
          day. The mail  in rural Alaska is  often slow, not                                                                  
          to the fault of any  Alaskan, but to the nature of                                                                    
          the remoteness  of our communities,  the inability                                                                    
          to have reliable  service, and continued hardships                                                                    
          on the  ability to  even keep post  offices opened                                                                    
          in some  areas. There must be  flexibility to take                                                                    
          into account  the many  rural villages  across our                                                                    
          state  and allow  time for  ballots  to be  mailed                                                                    
          back   and  counted.   Alaskans   should  not   be                                                                    
          penalized  and  not  be  able  to  exercise  their                                                                    
          constitutionally protected right to vote.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
        • Immediate results are not as important in making                                                                    
          sure that all Alaskans have their votes counted.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
        • Support AVR      AFN has passed resolutions                                                                         
          supporting AVR, this is  an important provision to                                                                    
          keep. We  do not need  make it harder  to register                                                                    
          to  vote    AVR  has proven  to  be effective  and                                                                    
          useful, please do not roll this provision back.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     We  need to  be  taking more  measures  and actions  to                                                                    
     increase  access  to  voting including  the  provisions                                                                    
     mentioned and  increasing poll worker training,  Div of                                                                    
     Elections (DOE)  outreach to  rural areas  and building                                                                    
     stronger partnerships between  DOE and Tribes, increase                                                                    
     opportunities  for  early   voting     every  community                                                                    
     should  have  the  opportunity   to  early  vote,  more                                                                    
     polling  locations   such  as  at  medical   centers                                                                       
     ANTHC/SCF  is  a  hub for  many  communities  and  even                                                                    
     residents  of  Anchorage,  we   should  have  a  voting                                                                    
     location here that is easy and accessible.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:31:29 PM                                                                                                                    
MICHELLE  SPARCK,  Director, Get  Out  the  Native Vote  (GOTNV),                                                               
Anchorage, Alaska,  testified by invitation  on SB 64 and  SB 70.                                                               
She stated she  has worked as a director for  two election cycles                                                               
or five elections.  She stated that tribal  IDs weren't mentioned                                                               
as valid  ID forms  in either bill  and limiting  automatic voter                                                               
registration to the DMV excludes  many that can't access the DMV.                                                               
She  said the  PFD  process reaches  nearly  everyone across  the                                                               
state  and removing  registration maybe  cut costs,  but it  cuts                                                               
access. She  mentioned in  2022 some  villages had  no meaningful                                                               
access to vote  in statewide elections and  other ballots arrived                                                               
to  late to  count,  post office  dependencies  block voting  and                                                               
communication and will cause recurring issues in rural Alaka.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:36:41 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. SPARCK continued with her testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
She stated that she supports the following for SB 64:                                                                           
   • allows same day registration                                                                                               
   • pre-registering 16 yar olds                                                                                                
   • adding rural community liaison to ease burdens on rural                                                                    
     supervisors                                                                                                                
   • language assistance                                                                                                        
   • early vote count                                                                                                           
   • postage paid on return envelopes for absentee ballots                                                                      
   • special needs accommodation                                                                                                
   • ballot tracking system                                                                                                     
   • more drop boxes                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
She stated few concerns of SB 64 are:                                                                                           
   • communities under 750 as permanent voting site could help                                                                  
     reduce high rejection rates in vote by mail experiences,                                                                   
     rural areas have a large rejection rate, and postal and                                                                    
     weather issues.                                                                                                            
   • ballot curing process                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:39:01 PM                                                                                                                    
MICHAEL GARVY, Policy Director, Alaska Civil Liberties Union                                                                    
(ACLU), Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 64 and                                                                 
read the following testimony:                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     I want to focus on  the provision to establish a ballot                                                                    
     curing system.  This is  especially important  in light                                                                    
     of a  ruling last Friday  in a lawsuit we  and partners                                                                    
     filed in 2022, when  thousands of ballots were rejected                                                                    
     for minor  errors in the  all-mail primary.  The Alaska                                                                    
     Superior  Court disagreed  with our  argument that,  in                                                                    
     the  absence  of  explicit legislative  direction,  the                                                                    
     Alaska Constitution requires  the Division of Elections                                                                    
     to implement a notice-and-cure system.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     While  an   appeal  is  still  possible,   the  written                                                                    
     decision makes  clear that the legislature  must act to                                                                    
     establish a  ballot curing system. Ballot  curing would                                                                    
     address  real problems.  In November,  more than  1,300                                                                    
     absentee  ballots were  rejected.  Most  of those  were                                                                    
     rejected    for,    essentially,   administrative    or                                                                    
     inadvertent mistakes.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Additionally,  a ballot  curing system  would not  be a                                                                    
     radical policy change. The  Division said in litigation                                                                    
     that it could administer  an election including notice-                                                                    
     and-cure  without  increasing  voter fraud,  and  never                                                                    
     claimed  that  implementing  such  a  system  would  be                                                                    
     overly burdensome. In fact,  the state already provides                                                                    
     notice to  voters that their ballots  were rejected; it                                                                    
     only does so after an election has occurred.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Finally, ballot curing would  help Alaska better uphold                                                                    
     our   fundamental  voting   rights   and  improve   the                                                                    
     integrity   of   our  elections.   During   litigation,                                                                    
     Division  officials agreed  that providing  notice-and-                                                                    
     cure might  actually increase voter  confidence because                                                                    
     they know every eligible vote will be counted.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Ballot curing never allows an  ineligible voter to vote                                                                    
     in  an  election. It  simply  gives  eligible voters  a                                                                    
     chance to  prove that they  are qualified, and  for our                                                                    
     election  results to  better reflect  the  will of  the                                                                    
     people. In a  state where voting is  the cornerstone of                                                                    
     our democracy, this is essential.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     We  urge the  committee  to advance  SB  64 because  it                                                                    
     includes this  and other critical provisions  that will                                                                    
     help ensure  the voting rights of  Alaskans and improve                                                                    
     the integrity of our elections.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:41:28 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI opened public testimony on SB 64 and SB 70.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:41:51 PM                                                                                                                    
RANDY RUEDRICH,  representing self, Anchorage,  Alaska, testified                                                               
with concerns on SB  64 and SB 70. He stated  that SB 64, Section                                                               
2  is troubling.  The language  is  overly broad  and solves  one                                                               
issue by creating another. He  urged against extending it to say,                                                               
"present residence." He thinks the  litigation in the 3rd and 4th                                                               
circuits will  require ballots  to be  received by  Election Day,                                                               
eliminating  the  current  15-day   grace  period.  He  suggested                                                               
absentee in-person  ballots should  be received  by the  clerk by                                                               
Election Day. He  said the state of Alaska  should continue using                                                               
written signatures to ensure election security.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:44:49 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. RUEDRICH  continued his testimony  stating SB 64,  Section 30                                                               
raises  concern.  He  stated  his   belief  that  voting  results                                                               
shouldn't be shared before polls  close. He is concerned with the                                                               
proposed  cure process;  it doesn't  address the  real issue.  He                                                               
stated  that rushing  to  fix  a vague  issue  may create  bigger                                                               
problems.  He said  that drop  boxes  don't significantly  impact                                                               
early, in-person  absentee, or  out-of-state voting,  which makes                                                               
up  about a  third of  absentee  mail-in and  online ballots.  He                                                               
criticized  the  section  on  synthetic  media,  stating  neither                                                               
federal nor  state governments have  established rules on  it and                                                               
warns against  premature legislation. He suggested  not including                                                               
the redistricting  board in these proposals,  noting it functions                                                               
like a  quasi-judicial body and  are treated like courts  and the                                                               
legislature, which are exempt from open meetings laws.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:48:56 PM                                                                                                                    
DOROTHY  SHOCKLEY,   Policy  Justice  Legislative   Lead,  Native                                                               
Movement, Fairbanks, Alaska,  testified in support of  SB 64. She                                                               
stated  that she  supports removing  the witness  requirement for                                                               
ballot  signatures. She  emphasized  the  importance of  allowing                                                               
voters  to correct  ballots  and  support same-day  registration,                                                               
particularly  where internet  and  mail access  are limited.  She                                                               
highlighted  serious  postal  service  issues  in  rural  Alaska,                                                               
citing  77   staffing  vacancies  in  2023.   She  advocated  for                                                               
accepting tribal  IDs since many  rural residents lack  access to                                                               
state ID  services. She said  community liaisons  are recommended                                                               
to support absentee and early  voting, which remains inaccessible                                                               
in many rural areas.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:53:32 PM                                                                                                                    
DARLENE  TRIGG, Vice  President,  Human  Resources, Kawerak  Inc.                                                               
Nome, Alaska  testified in support  of SB 64. She  reiterated the                                                               
testimony from Ms. Shockley.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:55:39 PM                                                                                                                    
BRITTANI ROBBINS,  representing self, Wrangell,  Alaska testified                                                               
in  support of  SB  64.  She reiterated  the  testimony from  Ms.                                                               
Shockley.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:59:03 PM                                                                                                                    
EMILY  LEAK, Executive  Director,  Alaska  Voter Hub,  Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska,  testified  in support  of  SB  64. She  paraphrased  her                                                               
written testimony as follows:                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The Alaska Voter Hub is  a coalition of 22 Alaska-based                                                                    
     nonprofits  and community  groups  working together  to                                                                    
     strengthen  democracy through  the collective  power of                                                                    
     voting. With a diverse  group of partner organizations,                                                                    
     the Voter  Hub has a  broad statewide reach of  tens of                                                                    
     thousands of  Alaskan voters. Through  voter engagement                                                                    
     and  non-partisan  education  we  empower  Alaskans  in                                                                    
     every community  to participate  in elections  at every                                                                    
     level.  Our work  aims to  address  any undue  barriers                                                                    
     facing  Alaskans at  the ballot  box creating  a voting                                                                    
     system that is fully  accessible to all Alaskan voters.                                                                    
     We  seek  to  ensure   that  all  eligible  Alaskans                                                                       
     whatever  their  political  persuasion    can  exercise                                                                    
     their  right  to vote  and  that  all valid  votes  are                                                                    
     counted. We  believe that if all  eligible Alaskans are                                                                    
     able to  exercise their right  to vote,  the democratic                                                                    
     process can flourish.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     We are  writing to express  our support for  SB-64, the                                                                    
     elections omnibus  bill that expands voting  rights and                                                                    
     voting  access for  Alaskan voters.  These improvements                                                                    
     to Alaska's  election system  stand to  increase access                                                                    
     to voters  who have  historically faced  undue barriers                                                                    
     to accessing their right to  vote and remedies to these                                                                    
     known challenges are long overdue.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:00:00 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. LEAK continued with her testimony.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     The Voter Hub Policy  Working Group has highlighted the                                                                    
     following  provisions as  critical needed  improvements                                                                    
     to Alaska's election systems:                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     - The removal of the witness signature requirement                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     The  witness signature  requirement  is an  unnecessary                                                                    
     element of absentee ballots. Given  that the state does                                                                    
     not   verify  signatures,   this   requirement  is   an                                                                    
     unnecessary and outdated  step that disempowers Alaskan                                                                    
     voters. This was evident in  the 2022 statewide primary                                                                    
     election that was conducted by  mail, when thousands of                                                                    
     votes were  not counted due to  missing signatures, and                                                                    
     again  in  the  2024  general election  with  over  500                                                                    
     ballots  being  rejected.   Removing  this  requirement                                                                    
     would simplify  the process  and allow  eligible voters                                                                    
     the opportunity  to more seamlessly cast  their ballots                                                                    
     by  mail,  and  to  ensure that  their  valid  vote  is                                                                    
     counted.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     - The addition of a ballot curing process                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Allowing voters the opportunity  to fix honest mistakes                                                                    
     made  when casting  their ballot  by mail  ensures that                                                                    
     all  Alaskans  have  equitable  access  to  the  voting                                                                    
     process, regardless of where  they live. The 2022 vote-                                                                    
     by-mail special  primary election is evidence  that the                                                                    
     lack  of a  ballot curing  process has  disenfranchised                                                                    
     Alaskan voters.  In this election, nearly  five percent                                                                    
     of  ballots were  rejected,  and  rejection rates  were                                                                    
     higher  in   precincts  with  greater   percentages  of                                                                    
     minority voters.  Many of  these ballots  were rejected                                                                    
     because the  voter identifier did  not match  the voter                                                                    
     record, no identifier was provided,  or because a voter                                                                    
     did  not sign  the ballot.  Establishing a  system that                                                                    
     gives voters  an opportunity to  cure   most  notably a                                                                    
     system  whose  timeline  and mechanics  works  for  all                                                                    
     Alaskan voters,  gives these voters the  opportunity to                                                                    
     fully exercise their right to vote.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - Establishing same-day voter registration                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Allowing voters  to register on election  day has shown                                                                    
     to  increase voter  turnout overall  and is  especially                                                                    
     beneficial to transient populations  and young and low-                                                                    
     income voters.  By allowing voters to  register to vote                                                                    
     and  update their  registration up-to  and on  election                                                                    
     day, creates  a voting  system that is  more accessible                                                                    
     and  more equitable  to Alaskan  Voters and  modernizes                                                                    
     the states systems  to be aligned with  23 other states                                                                    
     and  Washington DC.  While Alaska  allows for  same day                                                                    
     registration  when casting  a  ballot for  presidential                                                                    
     candidates,  expanding  this   opportunity  to  include                                                                    
     statewide elections further empowers Alaskan voters.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
5:02:09 PM                                                                                                                    
JACKIE BOYER,  representing self, Eagle River,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in support of SB 64. She reiterated the above testimonies.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:04:36 PM                                                                                                                    
SCOTT CRASS,  representing self, Fairbanks, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
support of SB 64. He reiterated the above testimonies.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:07:01 PM                                                                                                                    
KAREN BUTTON, representing self,  Anchorage, Alaska, testified in                                                               
support  of SB  64. She  appreciated  the bill's  focus on  rural                                                               
Alaska  and  its  efforts  to expand  voter  access  rather  than                                                               
restrict it.  She expressed  pride that  Alaska aimed  to improve                                                               
access  through  same-day  registration, ballot  curing,  prepaid                                                               
postage, and  electronic signatures.  She also  supported keeping                                                               
PDF  registration  and opposed  requiring  ballots  to arrive  by                                                               
Election  Day,  as   in  SB  70.  She   urged  allowing  formerly                                                               
incarcerated people to vote.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
5:10:05 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI kept public testimony open for SB 64 and SB 70.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
5:13:58 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI held SB 64 and SB 70 in committee.                                                                               

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB0070A.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 70
SB0064A.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
SB 64 Sectional Analysis.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
2023 USPS Postmaster Relief Vacancy Site onlys.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
AK Voter Hub - Letter of Support for SB-64.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
Support Letter for SB 64.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
SB 70 Sectional Analysis version A 01.27.2025.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 70
SB 70 Transmittal Letter version A 01.27.2025.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 70
SB0070-1-3-012425-GOV-Y.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 70
SB 70 DOE Presentation 01.30.25.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 70
SB 52 Sponsor Statement (updated).pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 52
SB 52 Sectional Analysis.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 52
SB 52 Election Ballot Deadline.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 52
SB 64 Fiscal note.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
SB 52 Power Point v. 2.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 52
Support Letter for SB 64.4.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
Support Letter for SB 64.5.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
Support Letter for SB 64.3.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
letter for SB 64.2.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
SB 64 Support AFL CIO.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
General support for voting.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
Susan A. Oppose SB 64.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
Oppose SB 52.2.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 52
Oppose SB 52.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 52
oppose SB 70.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 70
Oppose SB 70.2.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 70
SB 64 Secure Democracy USA AK Written Testimony 01302025.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
SSA Election Reform testimony Jan 2025.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
Support letter for SB 64.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
SB 64 Sponsor Statement.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
SB 64 Sponsor's Powerpoint updated 1-30-25.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
fiscal note.DOA.SB 64.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
fiscal note SB 52.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 52
SB 64 Alaska Center Letter of Support.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
Oppose SB 64.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
letter for SB 64.8.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
Letters of support SB 64.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
fiscal note.DOA.SB 64.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
First Alaskans testimony SB 70.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 70
Support SB 70.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 70
Oppose SB 70.3.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 70
First Alaskans testimony SB 64.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 64
Oppose SB 70.4.pdf SSTA 1/30/2025 3:30:00 PM
SB 70