Legislature(2001 - 2002)
05/05/2001 01:10 PM Senate STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SB 87-SPECIAL ABSENTEE BALLOTS
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT commented he had assured Senator Lincoln they
would get to a brief discussion of her bill.
SENATOR LINCOLN said her aide, Sara Boario, would explain the bill.
SARA BOARIO, staff to Senator Lincoln, explained SB 87 would extend
the 60 day special absentee ballot to voters living in remote
areas. Now only voters living, working or traveling outside the
United States are eligible.
This legislation is a result of requests by the Coy and Bower
families. They outlined the difficulties they faced in the last
election. There are many people who live in Bush Alaska and outside
of organized communities. Mail service is irregular and sometimes
non-existent and the limited time frame of the regular absentee
ballot makes it difficult to exercise their right to vote. The
regular absentee ballots are sent out three weeks before an
election and this in not enough time, particularly during the
winter.
As Representative Coghill said when he introduced HB 109, voting is
the fundamental method citizens use to participate in our
democracy. Therefore, improving the process for even a small number
of individuals is imperative.
There is no fiscal impact associated with the bill.
SENATOR LINCOLN noted there were a number of teleconference
testifiers who were available that morning but could not wait until
the committee met in the afternoon.
SENATOR PHILLIPS asked for the definition of remote site.
GAIL FENUMIAI, Election Program Specialist with the Division of
Elections, responded remote sites are those without reasonable
access to polling stations.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked how many individuals would be affected if
they gave voting some planning and thought. The 60 day special
absentee ballot is available to those who are out of the country
and there you're relying on another countries mail system. Although
he is well aware of the importance of allowing individuals the
opportunity to vote, people must take some responsibility to
exercise that duty. He asked whether the division of elections is
aware of a number of people who are precluded from voting due to
the time constraints.
MS. FENUMIAI said these voters do take the necessary steps to apply
for a regular by mail ballot but some of the remote areas do not
have mail service. They must charter a plane to get their mail
brought to them so in the wintertime the three week time frame
passes quickly.
She did not have a quantifiable number of voters that are affected
but they have received a number of comments from angry voters who
did not get their ballots back in time for them to be counted.
MS. BOARIO added that Shelly Growden, election supervisor for
region three, reported over 1,000 voters living in remote areas in
the interior and Prince William Sound area that are classified as
permanent absentee voting areas. Many of those voters live outside
organized communities and have no mail service.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked for confirmation that the definition of
remote is in statute.
MS. FENUMIAI thought it was in statute but did not recall seeing it
in Title 15 but the term "reasonable access remote area" is used in
other locations in statute.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT was concerned that it not become the division's
responsibility to ensure each individual gets a ballot.
MS. FENUMIAI agreed and said the division would have to decide on a
procedure for identifying these people.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked how the special 60 day absentee ballot
works.
MS. FENUMIAI replied that for the primary the voter gets a blank
ballot with a list of offices that are up for election in the
district in which they reside and a list of candidates who have
filed for office. The voter may then write in the name of a
candidate. They are also sent the official ballot and if that one
is voted, returned and received in time it is counted. If not, the
special event ballot is counted instead. For the general election,
the voter gets the same type of ballot but they have the option of
either writing in the name of the candidate or writing in the party
of their choice for each office. This is because the election
results are not certified for the primary at that time and that
voter's candidate of choice may not have advanced to the general
election ballot.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT said he wants to know more about the definition
of remote and how that would work. He also asked whether voting by
fax was an in state option or available to just out of state
voters.
MS. FENUMIAI assured him fax voting is available to voters both in
and out of state.
Side B
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT assured Senator Lincoln the discussion would
continue and that he needed more information on how remote would be
defined and the controls the division would institute.
SENATOR LINCOLN said huge numbers of voters would not be affected
but people that do make every effort to vote should be
accommodated.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT held the bill in committee.
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