02/04/2025 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

         SB  70-SCHOOL&ELECTION BDS; VOTING; ELECTIONS                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:00:06 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI 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."                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:00:25 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI opened public testimony on SB 70.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:00:56 PM                                                                                                                    
RANDY RUEDRICH,  representing self, Anchorage,  Alaska, testified                                                               
with concerns on SB 70. He stated that he's in support of:                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
   • REAA election change of moving the election year to the odd                                                                
     years.                                                                                                                     
   • change in the registration process                                                                                         
   • requiring absentee ballots by election day.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
He  stated that  he is  concerned with  cutting 5  days of  early                                                               
voting.   He  suggested   verifying  no   duplicate  voting   and                                                               
processing those  votes by Friday  after the election.  He stated                                                               
that he opposes:                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
   • permanent absentee ballot system                                                                                           
   • same-day voter registration                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:09:10 PM                                                                                                                    
RITA TROMETTER, representing self,  North Pole, Alaska, testified                                                               
with concerns  on SB 70.  She opined  that a 4-year  school board                                                               
term is too  long and 3 years is a  perfect timeframe. She stated                                                               
that PFD applicants  should only be added to voter  rolls if they                                                               
check the box to register. She  said that a real recount involves                                                               
a hand count  and mass mail in ballots are  wasteful and prone to                                                               
abuse.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:13:51 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI held SB 70 in committee.