SB 64-ELECTIONS  3:32:24 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 64 "An Act relating to elections; relating to voters; relating to voting; relating to voter preregistration for minors at least 16 years of age; relating to voter registration; relating to the Alaska Public Offices Commission; relating to synthetic media in electioneering communications; relating to campaign signs; relating to public official financial disclosures; relating to the crime of unlawful interference with voting in the first degree; and providing for an effective date." 3:32:42 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited a motion. 3:32:46 PM SENATOR BJORKMAN moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for SB 64, work order 34-LS0153\O, as the working document. 3:33:02 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI objected for purposes of discussion. 3:33:32 PM MAXINE LABERGE, Staff, Senator Bill Wielechowski, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the summary of changes from version T to version O of SB 64: [Original punctuation provided.] Summary of Changes Draft CS Version T to Draft CS Version O The following provisions were added to the bill: • Section 1, subsection 9 & section 25 clarify that voters will have their ballot counted for the races they are still eligible to vote in if they vote in a district which includes their former voting residence. • In Section 6, subsection 4 & Section 10, subsections (i)-(l): additional voter roll cleanup procedures were added to require notices be sent to voters whose permanent mailing address in Division records has been outside of Alaska for at least two years. These notices will give the voters the opportunity to confirm they are still Alaska residents, cancel their registration, or move to federal only status. • In Section 10 the following subsections were added: -Subsection (g) requires the Division to adopt regulations to conduct a review of the voter register. -Subsection (h) requires the Division to consult with an expert to conduct a review of the voter register and to submit a report to the Legislature. The following changes were made to existing provisions in the bill: • In Section 38 the existing ballot tracking language is replaced with provisions that can be implemented by the Division. • In Section 1 clarifications are made to the definition of residency. 3:35:25 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI removed his objection. He found no further objection and CSSB 64 was adopted as the working document. 3:36:20 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI opened public testimony on SB 64. 3:36:38 PM ALEX KOPLIN, representing self, Homer, Alaska, testified in support of SB 64 and stated that he supports ballot curing, witness signatures, and prepaid envelopes. He stressed the importance of protecting voting access, noting that voters can make mistakes and should still have their votes counted. He said while the overall proposal is complex, he believes passing at least one reform this year would be a big step forward and could lay the groundwork for future improvements before the next election. 3:38:57 PM ROBERT WELTON, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, testified with concerns on SB 64 and discussed Section 42 of version T, which requires the lieutenant governor to create a cybersecurity program for voter registration records. He stated that he is supportive of stronger security but had two concerns: First, cybersecurity should be managed by a nonpartisan election official, not the lieutenant governor, to avoid political influence and mistrust. Second, the scope is too narrow, covering only voter registration records, and should also include vote tabulation systems. He said he supports expanding cybersecurity but suggested shifting responsibility to the Division of Elections. 3:41:27 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI closed public testimony on SB 64. 3:41:38 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI stated that the committee has discussed how the division can make sure ballots are properly tracked. Since some legislators see ballot tracking as essential to knowing exactly where a ballot is in the process, the committee added Section 38 on page 21, version O of SB 64. He asked Ms. Beecher to explain the divisions thoughts regarding this new section. 3:42:31 PM CAROL BEECHER, Director, Division of Elections, Anchorage, Alaska, answered questions on SB 64 and responded that the division confirmed it can meet the section's requirements either with existing systems or with a vendor. The only challenge is tracking the exact delivery date of ballots to voters, since that relies on USPS tracking. She added that residency requirements for voting mandate a person to be a resident of the state in which they vote, regardless of whether it is a state or federal race. Section 6 and 10 of SB 64 address residency requirements for voting. She noted that although the language in Section 10(I) may seem confusing, nonresidents of a state are not permitted to vote under any circumstances. 3:45:31 PM SONJA KAWASAKI, Assistant Senate Majority Legal Counsel Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska answered questions on SB 64 and stated that the two sections in question were drafted to clarify residency rules for voting. These sections allow someone who has a reasonable plan to return to the state or their former voting district to continue voting there, as mentioned in SB 64, Section 1(2). She said this reflects how the Division of Elections already handles ballots when voters move from their original registration address. While the sections may need further legal review, they are seen as technical clarifications rather than substantive changes. 3:47:28 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI opined that the fundamental issue is sometimes people leave their residence, move overseas, but under federal law still retain the right to vote. Sections 6 and 10 of SB 64 address this situation. 3:48:00 PM MS. KAWASAKI explained that under current law, Alaskans who move, whether overseas, to another state, or within Alaska, can still vote in the district they intend to return to. Sections 6 and 10 aim to align with how the Division of Elections already applies the law, but with a shift from a vague "subjective intent" to a clearer requirement that the voter have an articulable and reasonable plan to return. 3:49:21 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI noted that Alaska has more registered voters than actual citizens, partly because people register to vote in Alaska and then leave the state. Some do this to claim Alaska as their legal residence for tax reasons or to receive permanent fund dividends, which is fraudulent. He said that if the bill, as written, aligns with federal law, then the committee shouldn't delay its progress. 3:51:03 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI referenced SB 64, page 2, lines 17-19, and sought confirmation that a person does not lose their Alaska residency by temporarily leaving the state with the intent to return. He gave an example of a child leaving for college from the parent's home. 3:51:43 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI replied that is exactly the intent. He explained that the law aims to allow people who temporarily leave Alaska, such as students, seasonal residents, or military members, to maintain residency and vote, if they have a clear and reasonable plan to return. This prevents the voter rolls from being inflated by individuals with no real connection or intent to return to Alaska. 3:52:34 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI referenced Section 6 that addresses the loss of Alaska residency by establishing residency or voting in another state and to reestablish one's voting right must requalify under AS 15.05. He asked Ms. Beecher if the Division can comply with Section 6. 3:53:32 PM MS. BEECHER responded that someone who was a resident of Alaska, such as a person currently overseas, can still be considered an Alaska resident for voting purposes. However, everyone must have a state of residency; you cannot be without jurisdiction. She said residency, in this context, determines where a person is eligible to vote. 3:54:30 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI referenced page 2, lines 9-13, that allows voters to maintain residency based on their "intention to return," but the Division of Elections cannot determine someone's intentions. The proposed change requires voters to have a clear, reasonable, and articulable plan to return, rather than a vague intention, making the standard more concrete and enforceable. 3:56:26 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited the will of the committee. 3:56:30 PM SENATOR BJORKMAN moved to report CSSB 64, work order 34- LS0153\O, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 3:56:48 PM CHAIR KAWASAKI found no objection and CSSB 64 (STA) was reported from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.