Legislature(2025 - 2026)DAVIS 106
01/23/2025 03:15 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Introductions | |
| Presentation(s): Overview by Division of Elections | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ANSWERED ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
JOINT MEETING
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
January 23, 2025
3:17 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS
Senator Scott Kawasaki, Chair
Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Vice Chair
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
Senator Robert Yundt
HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS
Representative Ashley Carrick, Chair
Representative Andi Story, Vice Chair
Representative Rebecca Himschoot
Representative Ky Holland
Representative Sarah Vance
Representative Elexie Moore
MEMBERS ABSENT
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS
All members present.
HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS
Representative Kevin McCabe
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Senator Mike Shower
Representative Bill Elam
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION(S): OVERVIEW BY DIVISION OF ELECTIONS
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
CAROL BEECHER, Director
Division of Elections
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented an overview from the Division of
Elections.
KELLY HOWELL, Chief of Staff
Lieutenant Governor's Office
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions.
THOMAS FLYNN, Assistant Attorney General
Civil Division
Department of Law
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding voting laws.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:17:50 PM
CHAIR CARRICK called the joint meeting of the Senate and House
State Affairs Standing Committees to order at 3:17 p.m. Present
at the call to order were Senators Bjorkman, Wielechowski, Gray-
Jackson, Yundt, and Chair Kawasaki. Representative members at
the call to order were Representatives Vance, Moore, Holland,
Himschoot, Story and Chair Carrick.
^INTRODUCTIONS
3:19:42 PM
CHAIR CARRICK invited House committee members to introduce
themselves.
3:20:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY stated she has been on the State Affairs
committee for several years and finds the committee very
important. She's been a school board member for 15 years. She
emphasized her appreciation of public feedback.
3:21:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MOORE stated she is from District 28 serving for
the first time on the State Affairs committee. She's looking
forward to working closely with Chair Carrick.
3:21:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND stated he is from District 9, and he's
interested in the role State Affairs has in economic
development. He's excited about the committee and his role in
contributing to its work.
3:22:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE stated she is from District 6 and comes
from Homer. She has served for two terms on the State Affairs
committee, she served on other committees last term but is
excited to be back.
3:22:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT stated she is from District 2, which
has 500 miles of beautiful coastal miles. She's interested in
the topics ahead and happy to be on the committee.
3:23:08 PM
CHAIR CARRICK stated she is from West Fairbanks including the
University District. She's grateful to serve in this capacity
and is hoping for a productive committee.
3:24:00 PM
At ease.
3:30:21 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI reconvened the Joint Senate State Affairs
meeting.
3:31:11 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN joined the meeting.
^PRESENTATION(S): OVERVIEW BY DIVISION OF ELECTIONS
PRESENTATION(S): OVERVIEW BY DIVISION OF ELECTIONS
3:31:49 PM
CAROL BEECHER, Director Division of Elections Anchorage, Alaska
presented an overview from the Division of Elections.
3:32:37 PM
KELLY HOWELL, Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Governor's Office
Juneau, Alaska introduced herself.
3:33:05 PM
MS BEECHER moved to slide 2, and discussed the following points:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Division of Elections Staff
33 Permanent Staff
• Appointed by the director or hired by division
managers
• Required to remain neutral and sign an oath of
impartiality
Five Regional Offices
• Region 1 Juneau (House Districts 1 6)
• Region 2 Anchorage (House Districts 9 24)
• Region 3 Fairbanks (House Districts 31 36)
• Region 4 Nome (House Districts 37 40)
• Region 5 Wasilla (House Districts 7 8 and 25
30)
3:33:50 PM
MS BEECHER moved to slide 3, and shared voter registration
requirements:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Voter Registration (AS 15.05.010)
A person may vote at any election who is:
• A citizen of the United States;
• 18 years of age or older;
• A resident of the state and of the house district
at least 30 days before election day; and
• Not registered to vote in another jurisdiction.
3:34:20 PM
MS BEECHER moved to slide 4-7, and said the Division is required
to follow both federal and state laws She discussed the
following acts and statutes:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Voter Registration and Citizenship
National Voter Registration Act (NVRA)
• Voter registration forms may not include "any
requirement for notarization or other formal
authentication"
• Requires states to include voter registration as
part of an application for a driver's license and
driver's license renewal
Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) registration
forms:
• Person may 'opt in' to be registered to vote and
must affirm citizenship
PFD Automatic Voter Registration (AVR)
• Division of Elections receives a list from the
PFD Division for only those applicants who marked
they are a U.S. citizen
• Person is automatically registered to vote if
they mark, they are a U.S. citizen
• If so marked and the application is new or the
address has changed:
Person is notified that they will be
registered if they don't opt out within 30
days
3:36:02 PM
MS BEECHER moved to slide 5, and shared automatic voter
registration criteria with the PFD:
[Original punctuation provided.]
PFD Automatic Voter Registration
PROCESS: (AS 15.07.070(j)-(m))
• DOE will only receive information from PFD
applicants who stated on their application that
they are a U.S. citizen
• New applicants and those with address changes are
sent a notice informing them they will be
automatically registered to vote unless they opt
out within 30 days of notice
• Filing for a PFD is defined as "appearing to
vote" for purposes of remaining active in the
Voter Registration System
3:36:27 PM
MS BEECHER moved to slide 6, and shared the how to determine
residence for voting:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Residence (AS 15.05.020)
For purposes of determining residence for voting:
• The address of a voter as it appears on the
official voter registration record is presumptive
evidence of the person's voting residence
• The presumption is negated only if the voter
notifies the director in writing of a change of
residence
MS. BEECHER stated a post office box is not considered an
address.
3:37:1 0 PM
MS BEECHER moved to slide 7, and spoke about the following
points:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Voter Registration List Maintenance
AS 15.07.130
• Yearly notification to voters (51,119 mailed in
2024)
• Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)
lists
MS. BEECHER stated Alaska is a member of Electronic Registration
Information Center (ERIC), an organization that helps states
maintain accurate voter registration lists and currently, 25
states are members. She said ERIC cross-checks DMV and voter
registration data to identify individuals registered in multiple
states and provides this information for corrective action. She
said it also uses the Social Security death index to flag
deceased voters and incorporates other data sources to track
voter movement. Only member states have a say in ERIC's
operations.
• Duplicate voters
MS BEECHER stated duplicate voting can occur when a person
submits an absentee ballot and then votes again in person. She
said election officials maintain a list of duplicate votes and
forward it to the Department of Law, which then decides whether
to investigate further.
• Vital Statistics
MS BEECHER stated election officials receive regular reports
from vital statistics on deceased voters. Staff review
obituaries weekly and sometimes poll workers will notify the
Division if they notice deceased individuals on voter lists. She
stated family members can inform the Division of a voter's
passing.
• List Maintenance Statistics
-www.elections.Alaska.gov/research/statistics/
-19,857 inactive records removed in 2024
3:40:12 PM
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 8, and spoke about the following
points:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Methods of Voting
ABSENTEE
• Must apply for an absentee ballot to vote by
mail, fax, request online. Fax or online ballots
must be returned by fax or mail.
• May vote absentee in person Absentee Voting
Official Location (AVO)
-Required voter to fill out envelope verifying
information and goes through the review board
process
MS BEECHER stated that each April, the Division contacts
communities to confirm AVO participation, by sending at least
three notices and making follow-up calls. She said AVOs handle
ballots and voter documentation, ensuring secure returns.
Communities are not listed as AVO locations if they do not
respond to communications from the Division.
SPECIAL NEEDS
• Requires a personal representative
MS. BEECHER stated special needs ballots serve individuals
unable to visit the polls due to special circumstances. She
explained that a representative delivers the ballot, completes a
section on the envelope, and signs it. The special needs ballots
are available to anyone in need.
Review Boards begin review of absentee and special
needs ballots 7 days before Election Day
EARLY
• Vote in person beginning 15 days before Election
Day
• Requires verification of registration in the
Voter Registration & Election Management System
(VREMS)
• Review Board reviews early vote ballots that were
cast after registers were printed
MS. BEECHER stated that early voting and absentee in-person
voting are different. She said early voting locations connect to
the voter registration system, allowing real-time verification
and marking of a voter's status and absentee in-person voting
requires filling out an absentee envelope, with ballots later
reviewed by the absentee board. She said a few days before the
election, voter registers are printed, early votes during that
time are sequestered to prevent double voting. On Election Day,
those not on the register list must vote with a questioned
ballot.
ELECTION DAY
• Vote in person on Election Day
• Must be on the register or vote goes on a
questioned ballot
3:43:52 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated that the witness signature
requirement for absentee ballots has led to the disqualification
of thousands of ballots in Alaska. Although a witness signature
is required the Division does not verify witness signatures. He
asked is that still the case.
3:44:40 PM
MS. BEECHER answered the Division does not verify signatures.
3:44:47 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if the Division of Elections would
discard a ballot if the witness signed using a name such as
"Mickey Mouse."
3:44:54 PM
MS. BEECHER replied, correct.
3:44:59 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked is a ballot discarded if a poll
worker, or personal representative makes an error.
3:45:33 PM
MS. BEECHER replied she would check whether an error by a poll
worker disqualifies a ballot, as there may be a statute that
protects ballots from being rejected due to mistakes made by
election officials. She stated a ballot is rejected if an error
is made by a personal representative.
3:46:00 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if 38 percent of all special need
ballots cast in District 40 were rejected.
MS. BEECHER said she did not know.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI noted that while the number of special
needs ballots is not large, a few hundred are rejected each year
due to mistakes made by personal representatives or someone
assisting the voter, not the voters themselves. He requested the
Division of Elections provide the committee the information.
3:47:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked about the process for special needs
ballots, focusing on situations where individuals who require
assistance and accommodations are unavailable.
3:48:06 PM
MS. BEECHER responded when a representative requests a special
needs ballot, it is provided. She replied polling places should
have tools available to help visually impaired voters or an
election official can assist.
3:49:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked how election staff training is
conducted to ensure proper assistance for voters with
disabilities.
3:49:36 PM
MS. BEECHER acknowledged disability training is important. The
Division would address issues at its annual debriefing meeting.
She added staff would remind poll workers of available supplies
and advise them to promptly report missing materials.
3:50:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether poll workers receive training
only once per year.
MS. BEECHER replied poll workers undergo a one-time, four-hour
training session before the election season. Additionally, there
is a yearly, three-day debrief meeting where the staff reviews
the previous election's events, discusses areas for improvement,
and addresses any issues raised during the year.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether a representative could bring
the ballot to a person that is unable to travel to a polling
location.
MS. BEECHER replied a special needs ballot is obtainable at
polling locations, or a representative may deliver a ballot to a
person. However, that same representative must sign the ballot,
or the Division of Elections will reject it.
3:52:26 PM
CHAIR CARRICK inquired about federal guidelines for language
assistance for voters and how well Alaska complies.
3:52:54 PM
MS. Beecher responded all states, must follow federal Rule 203,
which mandates language assistance based on English proficiency
and population size. Currently, Alaska aids in Yupik, Tagalog,
and Inupiaq. She said an ongoing federal court settlement
(Toyukak case) requires specific measures for Yupik speakers in
Western Alaska. Proposed legislation aims to prevent special
needs ballot rejections due to errors by representatives, which
are viewed as frustrating and unnecessary.
3:55:14 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated Alaska presents unique challenges
for conducting elections due to its vast geography, diverse
languages, and small villages with limited poll workers. He
stated even in urban centers like Anchorage and Fairbanks,
voters experienced long wait times for early voting, which
seemed worse this year. He asked what caused the delays and how
can the division address them.
3:55:44 PM
MS BEECHER responded the Division was unprepared for the high
volume of early voters, which lead to long wait times over two
hours. Early voting takes longer than regular polling due to
additional verification steps, and there was inadequate space
and staffing to handle the demand. She said the issue is a
priority and solutions include renting larger venues and
increasing staff in urban areas.
3:57:08 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said there is significant interest in
improving elections, and while there is appreciation for the
governor's bill, some provisions may require debate. He said one
concern is the length of time it took to count ballots. He asked
what contributed to the delay and could the process of scanning
ballots start earlier.
3:58:08 PM
MS BEECHER replied the heightened urgency for immediate
information and results, makes the wait feel longer, even though
the process has always been a 10- to 15-day period for absentee
ballots to come in. She said to improve transparency, officials
have started releasing the cast vote record, as results become
available. Reviewing and opening ballots takes time due to
required oversight by staff and review boards. She stated a
proposed change in the governor's bill aims to begin reviewing
ballots 10 days before the election instead of seven. Current
law prohibits counting ballots before 8 p.m. on Election Day,
which has been interpreted to include scanning.
4:00:25 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked how many absentee ballots were
not counted due to arrival after the deadline.
4:00:41 PM
MS BEECHER stated she didn't know but would provide the number
to the committee.
4:01:06 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI stated a detailed timeline showing the number of
ballots received on Election Day, followed by a daily breakdown
of ballots received afterward, along with how many were
disqualified due to date issues, would clarify the mail-in
ballot process.
4:01:35 PM
SENATOR YUNDT mentioned the removal of 19,000 inactive voters
and asked for an explanation of the criteria that determines an
inactive status.
4:01:50 PM
MS BEECHER stated that under voter list maintenance rules, a
person remains active if they engage in activities such as
voting, signing a petition, or contacting the Division of
Elections. She said if there is no activity for two general
elections, the individual receives a non-forwardable mail notice
asking if they wish to remain registered. She said if there is
no response, a second forwardable notice is sent. She said if
still unresponsive, the voter is marked as inactive. She stated
they remain in inactive status for another two general elections
before being removed from the voter list.
4:03:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked whether the Division of Elections and
the Department of Law have formulated a response to the Fifth
Circuit Court ruling, which states that counting ballots after
Election Day violates the law.
4:04:12 PM
THOMAS FLYNN, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division,
Department of Law, Anchorage, Alaska, answered questions. He
stated he still doesn't have an answer at this time and would
need to look up the decision.
4:04:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE stated that understanding the Department of
Law and the Division's perspective on that court ruling is
essential for shaping election bills on absentee ballots. She
said the goal is to avoid passing legislation that may later
require changes due to a court decision.
4:05:18 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said he has heard that there are 106
percent more registered voters in Alaska than there are adult
citizens. He asked if the discrepancy sounded accurate and why
it exists.
4:05:41 PM
MS. BEECHER responded she wasn't sure of the exact percentage of
registered voters compared to adult citizens of Alaska. She
stated the discrepancy arises because individuals who no longer
reside in Alaska, such as those intending to return, overseas
voters, and military members, are still registered to vote in
Alaska.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated this is a significant concern he's
heard from many constituents. He said in a personal experience,
he's knocked on doors where the person at the address hasn't
lived there for years, but according to the Division of
Elections, they've been voting in every election. He asked how
voter intent is determined, and does it largely or completely
determine where a person should be registered to vote.
MS. BEECHER replied the Division of Elections wants to remove
the phrase "intent to remain" from the governor's bill because
it is confusing and there's no reliable way to accurately gauge
someone's intent.
4:08:03 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked how voter intent is determined and
does it largely or completely determine where a person should be
registered to vote.
4:08:13 PM
MR. FLYNN responded that voter intent is an important factor in
determining residency, but it must be accompanied by a presence
component. He stated a person must have lived in a location and
intend to return in cases of previous residence. For new
residents, both physical presence and the intent to remain are
required.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked whether it would be illegal for
people to register to vote in a district where they purchased a
house while still living in another district.
MR. FLYNN replied it would depend on the circumstances. He
opined that merely intending to live somewhere is not enough to
obtain residency.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked whether it's a legal violation to
stay registered and vote in Nunaka Valley after moving to and
living in South Anchorage.
MR. FLYNN replied the answer depends on the circumstances. He
explained the current law allows a person to remain legally
registered at their previous residence if they intend to return.
4:10:10 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked whether a person who moves to a new
district, relocates all their possessions, but retains voter
registration at the previous address is violating the law. He
requested the Department of Law's position on this scenario and
asked if it would be classified as a misdemeanor or a felony.
MR. FLYNN replied a formal opinion would be best provided in
writing but in general the situation depends on the
circumstances. He added determining whether the action
constitutes a felony or misdemeanor requires further analysis.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked whether people are breaking the law
if the voter moves to a new district but continues voting in the
previous district.
MR. FLYNN replied it may seem like a simple question; the answer
depends on the circumstances. Under current law, the "intent to
return" provision could allow someone to remain registered at
their previous address if they plan to return.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked Chair Kawasaki for a formal written
opinion from Mr. Flynn.
4:12:06 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI stated that on behalf of the Attorney General the
committee could draft a formal request to Mr. Flynn and would
consider holding a future hearing on the issue.
4:12:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked if there is a distinction on the
master list of how many registered voters reside outside of
Alaska, including overseas. She asked if the master register
included an indicator for different types of voters.
4:13:14 PM
MS. BEECHER replied it's unclear how the voters are designated,
possibly just by address, but the Division of elections can
provide the information and clarify if any specific designation
applies.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE stated it would be helpful to understand
the scale of this issue, to better assess intent to return.
She stated the term "domicile" appears to be a key factor in the
statute. She asked whether it plays a role in the laws regarding
"intent to return."
MS. BEECHER stated she would need to look at the statute.
4:14:10 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said as a candidate, he called voters still
registered in his district but now living out of state or in
rural Alaska. He asked can you encourage them to vote in the
district where they're still registered, or would that be
considered illegal.
4:15:05 PM
MR. FLYNN responded he is not comfortable determining whether
candidates are committing crimes based on these facts. He
suggested that this be addressed in a written response requested
by the committee. He wanted to highlight Section 15.05.02.0 of
the statute, particularly subsection 4, which states a person
does not lose residence if they leave temporarily, with the
intent to return.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked whether candidates are committing a
crime by asking voters to vote in the district they no longer
are living in.
MR. FLYNN replied he is unable to answer that on the record in
the meeting. He would prefer to provide a response on behalf of
the Attorney General's office in writing.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked whether any Alaskan candidate had
been prosecuted for this type of offense.
MR. FLYNN replied he didn't have an answer.
4:16:57 PM
SENATOR YUNDT asked whether the Division of Elections had
discussed adding more early voting locations statewide to
increase access.
4:17:26 PM
MS. BEECHER replied the ability to expand early voting locations
is limited by access to the voter registration system and
staffing constraints. It requires a significant number of people
to run early voting stations, and finding enough staff willing
to work long hours can be challenging. She stated the Division
would consider early voting stations in future discussions.
4:18:19 PM
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 9, and said ballots are designed in-
house before printing and shipping. She stated the deadline for
a candidate to withdraw is September 1, and the ballot printing
process begins immediately after.
[Original punctuation provided.]
Ballots
OUTGOING:
• Printed and shipped to Regional Offices
• Tracked and follow chain of custody
• Numbered and provided in packet of 25
• Logged and stored before Election Day in a
secured room
• Mailed with USPS tracking to some locations
MS. BEECHER stated ballots are tracked using their serial
numbers and stubs to monitor usage, including spoiled ballots.
She said spoiled ballots are kept separately and retained for a
set period after the election. She said regional offices mail
election materials, while Anchorage delivers them directly.
Rural ballots, stubs, and registers are sent to Juneau.
ELECTION DAY:
• Voter signs register, shows ID (AS 15.15.195)
• If name is not on register or no ID Questioned
Ballot (AS 15.15.198-215)
• No ballots? Precinct uses unmarked substitute
ballots or other election materials to mark the
intent of the voter (AS 15.15.140)
• Spoiled Ballots voter destroys, places in
envelope (AS 15.15.250)
POST-ELECTION:
• Ballots mailed to Juneau Director's Office
• Stored 22 months
4:21:32 PM
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 10;
[Original punctuation provided.]
Ballot Receipt Timeframes
AS 15.20.081(e) and (h)
(e)?the [absentee] ballot may not be counted unless it
is received by the close of business on the 10th day
after election
(h)?an absentee ballot returned by mail from outside
the U.S. or from an overseas voter?may not be counted
unless the ballot is received by?the close of business
on the
(1) 10th day following a primary election or
special election
(2) 15th day following a general election or
special election
These deadlines have been in law for decades
4:22:05 PM
CHAIR CARRICK acknowledged that ballot receipt deadlines are
established in statute but noted voter frustration this year
over expected result releases that did not happen. She asked if
the Division publicly announced any deadlines for releasing
voting results that were not met.
4:22:52 PM
MS. BEECHER responded the deadlines for receiving domestic
ballots are the 10th and 15th days; the volume of ballots
received impacts the timeline. Ballots are reviewed by election
staff and absentee boards, which is a time-consuming process
that involves multiple people checking each ballot. She said
after review, the ballots are opened and scanned, which can take
hours, especially with large volumes. The Division made efforts
to communicate the counting timelines but has learned valuable
lessons and plans to improve communication in the future by
hiring a publications person to better report and provide
information.
4:25:23 PM
CHAIR CARRICK asked if the solution to the communication
challenge is simply about improving communication or is there
more to the matter, such as having enough workers to count
ballots.
MS. BEECHER responded the Division is not required to report
results by a specific time but aims to do so as soon as the
process is complete. She suggested one potential solution could
be setting a formal schedule for result releases, such as the
seventh day or earlier if processing allows. She said expanding
the number of workers is an option, but space constraints in the
current location limit how many additional people can be
accommodated.
4:27:30 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if there were communities that had
difficulty getting poll workers.
4:27:40 PM
MS. BEECHER replied getting poll workers is always a challenge,
not just in rural areas. The key difference is urban areas have
a larger pool of potential replacements, making it easier to
find substitutes.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said elections face challenges like long
urban lines, poll worker shortages, ballot supply issues, and
slow ballot verification. He asked whether Ms. Beecher agreed
that implementing an all-mail election system would effectively
address most issues.
MS. BEECHER replied switching to an all-mail election is a
legislative decision. A proposed governor's bill would allow
mail-only voting for communities with 750 or fewer residents due
to challenges in recruiting poll workers. She stated that while
the idea is under discussion, it ultimately depends on
legislative action.
4:29:36 PM
CHAIR CARRICK proposed two ideas to improve election support:
appointing tribal liaisons for certain communities and
establishing a hotline system within regional offices to assist
poll workers and precinct chairs in real-time on Election Day.
She asked whether the Division has considered these options and
if it is open to implementing them.
4:31:23 PM
MS. BEECHER responded the Division has discussed these ideas,
but staffing is a challenge. Although supervisors and regional
offices are available they are often busy.
4:31:56 PM
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 11, and spoke about the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Ballot Chain of Custody
Precinct Election Boards (poll workers) Alaska
citizens appointed by each Regional Election
Supervisor
• [Non-partisan] a minimum of three members
• Each Precinct Election Board certifies that the
tabulation equipment received from the Regional
Counting Board shows zero results before the
opening of the polls
• Verify that all security seals and chain of
custody documents are completed
Boards and employees must complete chain of custody
any time documents leave their physical possession
• Verify the sequentially numbered stub on every
ballot and every security seal and tamper-evident
seal match the receipt and ensure material
transfers are signed for
• Maintain chain of custody and security logs
according to the Division's records retention
schedule
4:33:08 PM
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 12, and spoke about the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Election Results
Scanner results are transmitted to Juneau DOE Office
• Secured, encrypted pipeline, encrypted package
• Air-gapped server onsite
MS BEECHER stated that election results pass through two
firewalls: the State of Alaska firewall and the Division of
Elections firewall; requiring the proper encryption key for
access. She said results are transferred via a secure thumb
drive, and the server storing them is never online, except
within the local network in the office, preventing external
hacking.
Hand count results are called in to the Regional
Offices
She stated hand count precincts exist in Southeast Alaska,
Region 4 (Western Alaska), Region 3, and possibly some in Region
5 (Wasilla area). She said when polls close at 8 p.m., poll
workers call the regional office to report results. The office
uses a tally sheet while the poll worker reports vote counts
only first-choice votes are reported in the general election.
• Tallies are scanned, and filed to Juneau DOE
Office election night
• Voted ballots and registers are mailed to Juneau
DOE Office
4:35:34 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked whether counting and reporting errors
are more common in hand count precincts or those using scanners.
He said there was an error in the 24th general election where
Eric Haffner was initially reported to have received 64.9
percent of the vote in the Pelican, Elfin Cove precinct when he
received zero votes. He asked whether the precinct used hand
counting or a scanner.
4:35:58 PM
MS. BEECHER replied that specific error occurred in the Juneau
director's office during the manual input of scanned results
into the computer. She stated the tally sheet itself was
correct, but a data entry mistake often called a "fat finger
error" led to the incorrect reporting. She explained that
results that are called in tend to have more errors than scanned
results. This is partly because poll workers, who serve every
two years, must interpret tally sheet notations correctly. She
said some may have only been trained the day before, making it
challenging to accurately report votes.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked whether Ms. Beecher agreed that
receiving results from hand count precincts was a major factor
in election result delays. He stated that in the 2022 general
election, results from six rural precincts arrived too late to
be included in the final count. He asked whether the Division
considered acquiring scanners for rural precincts to help ensure
timely reporting of all results.
MS. BEECHER replied that the division explored and would
continue to explore equipping precincts with scanners, as it is
the preferred technology. She stated there are logistical
challenges, particularly in Western Alaska, where limited
bandwidth can make transmitting results difficult. She stated
when results are called in, the Division receives the first-
choice results. If the full ballot is unavailable, the division
cannot scan it to conduct the ranking process. She shared her
understanding that in 2022 the Division lacked the ballots needed
for ranking in those locations. However, they did have the
first-choice results as reported.
4:39:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE requested that the Division of Elections
provide the committees with a report detailing the number of
precincts using scanner tabulators versus hand counting, along
with the associated errors over the past few election cycles.
She stated that given advancements in technology, options like
satellite phones or devices could be included to ensure votes
are counted accurately and on time. She stated that over the
past six years of working with election issues, she has not seen
such comprehensive data from the Division and providing it could
build trust and transparency. She asked the Division when it
began conducting thorough security checks, such as air gapping,
to ensure voting machines have not been compromised.
4:42:05 PM
MS. BEECHER replied that additional security measures were
implemented after the 2020 incident involving reviewed
materials. She said she would need to verify the specifics of the
previously used system and would follow up with details on when
current security measures were introduced.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE stated that in 2020 the Department of
Administration Commissioner, Kelly Tshibaka, was asked to
produce a report on the security of Alaska's elections. She
noted the report was not made available to legislators or the
public and asked if Ms. Beecher has used the report to
internally strengthen elections.
4:43:46 PM
MS. HOWELL answered a report was requested and produced in 2020.
It was later released to the public in a redacted form due to
executive privilege and state security concerns. She said the
report is now under review to determine if any redacted sections
can be disclosed given the focus on election reform. She stated
the Division, in coordination with the Department of Law,
expects to complete this review soon. Numerous security
improvements were made since then and shared with legislators.
She said the division would provide a summary of these
improvements to the committee.
4:45:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE stated her main concern is ensuring the
Division is using the findings of the report. She asked Ms.
Beecher whether she was given full access to the report since
becoming the Director so she could effectively carry out her
duties.
4:46:08 PM
MS. HOWELL replied the report is an internal document accessible
to individuals within the executive branch who have a need to
know. She confirmed that Director Beecher has access to the
report.
4:46:29 PM
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 13, and spoke about the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Election Audits and Accountability
Hand count of a randomly selected precinct in each
House District
• One precinct with at least 5 percent of the total
votes cast in each of the 40 House Districts
• If there is a discrepancy of more than 1 percent
in the hand-count verification, the board hand
counts ALL the ballots cast in the district
MS. BEECHER stated this hand count is done during the State
Review Board's review, using multiple individuals hired from the
Juneau area.
Absentee/Questioned Review Boards
• Review absentee and questioned ballots
observers are in attendance
State Review Board
• Logic and Accuracy Testing (LAT) before election
• Review all ballot tallies/results from every
precinct post-election
Division of Elections (DOE) Post-Election Debrief
Off-year procedures evaluation
4:49:09 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked why the Division does not allow
voters to correct simple mistakes on absentee ballots, such as
transposed numbers in an identifier, when the issue is
identified before Election Day.
4:49:30 PM
MS. BEECHER replied the Division does not have a ballot cure
process because current statutes do not address or authorize
one.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked why the 2024 initiative sponsors were
allowed to correct their mistakes without explicit statutory
authority if there is no statutory cure process for initiatives
after the submission deadline.
4:51:01 PM
MR. FLYNN responded one case is currently in litigation, and the
other was litigated. He referred Senator Wielechowski to the
case filings. He stated that the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that
state law allows for fixing certification issues on petition
booklets, which differs from an absentee ballot curing process.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked when a ruling is expected in the
ballot curing case, given its similarities to the initiative
statute.
MR. FLYNN replied the court is expected to issue a ruling on the
ballot curing case by the end of the month, as per the judge's
orders.
4:52:02 PM
SENATOR YUNDT said slide 13 stated discrepancy of more than 1
percent in the Hand Count Verification Board requires a full
recount for that district. He asked if this had occurred, and
when it last happened.
4:52:26 PM
MS. BEECHER responded with the information she has; this has
never occurred.
4:52:41 PM
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 14, Election Security and Voter
Protection, and discussed the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Election Security and Voter Protection
DOE Technology
• User workstations
• Voter Registration and Election Management System
(VREMS)
• Ballot tabulation system
• Webserver
Methods of Maintaining Security
• SOA State Security
• Quarterly Security Training
• US Dept of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity &
Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
• U.S. Elections Assistance Commission (EAC)
4:54:14 PM
MS. BEECHER moved to slide 15, and said 2024 was her first year.
She learned many lessons and ways to improve; she spoke to the
following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Lessons learned and Improvements
Lessons
•Communications
•Mailing challenges
•Early voting
•Rural Region 4
Legislation
•Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA) elections
•PFD Automatic Voter Registration
•Election administration
•Ballot counting and receipt
•Official Election Pamphlets
•Voter residence
•By-mail voting
•Postage paid return envelopes for absentee ballots
MS. BEECHER said the Division is looking to remove outdated size
requirements for voting booths that are no longer made. She said
the Division has tried finding compliant booths even on eBay but
had no luck. She stated updating the language would enable the
use of modern, available booths.
5:00:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked whether communities were consulted
before the Division made changes to the Regional Education
Attendance Areas (REAAs) election schedule.
5:01:14 PM
MS. BEECHER responded the Division did reach out to the
Department of Education but has not yet contacted the
communities directly.
5:01:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether ensuring security for poll
workers and those involved in elections was a challenge in past
elections.
5:01:44 PM
MS. BEECHER replied Alaska has not faced significant issues with
violent rhetoric. She said security measures have been
implemented, including key cards, cameras, and protective window
film. She stated that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure
Security Agency (CISA) provided recommendations for enhancing
physical security, and the Division works closely with law
enforcement to ensure polling places are secure.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY stated that concerns were raised about
personal attacks and threats against poll workers nationwide.
She asked whether including confidentiality provisions in a bill
for poll worker's personal information was a good idea.
MS. BEECHER replied no. She said for voter registration,
individuals can choose to keep their personal address private,
but the Division has not considered additional measures for
protecting addresses.
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no further questions and thanked the
Division of Elections and Department of Law for the
presentation.
5:06:41 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Kawasaki. Adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting at 5:06 p.m.
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