HB 132 An Act repealing the ability of persons seeking an elective state executive office or a state or national legislative office to petition for inclusion of their names on the state general election ballot; requiring candidates of all political groups for a state or national legislative office to compete at the state primary 1 election for the placement on the general election ballot of the name of the one candidate from each political group that receives the greatest number of votes cast; and requiring candidates of all political groups for state executive office to compete at the state primary election for the placement on the general election ballot of the name of the one candidate for governor from each political group that receives the greatest number of votes cast and the name of the one candidate for lieutenant governor from the same political group that receives the greatest number of votes cast. CS HB 132 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a zero fiscal note by the Office of the Governor. HOUSE BILL 132 "An Act repealing the ability of persons seeking an elective state executive office or a state or national legislative office to petition for inclusion of their names on the state general election ballot; requiring candidates of all political groups for a state or national legislative office to compete at the state primary election for the placement on the general election ballot of the name of the one candidate from each political group that receives the greatest number of votes cast; and requiring candidates of all political groups for state executive office to compete 4 at the state primary election for the placement on the general election ballot of the name of the one candidate for governor from each political group that receives the greatest number of votes cast and the name of the one candidate for lieutenant governor from the same political group that receives the greatest number of votes cast." REPRESENTATIVE JERRY MACKIE explained that he introduced HB 132 in order to bring parity to the State's election process. The provision of the legislation would require that all candidates for State elective office enter the primary election contest. HB 132 would place all candidates before the electorate on an equal footing. All candidates would be required to be in the primary election. He added, just as the top vote getter to each political group will move on to the general election ballot, so too will the top vote getter among all independent candidates for a particular elective office. In this matter, the electorate will have an equal opportunity to view and assess all candidates for an elective office. And then each candidate will be equally challenged by the election process. Representative Kelly questioned the legal definition of "qualified voters" as referenced in Section #10 contained in the proposed committee substitute dated 2/14/95. (Tape Change, HFC 95-30, Side 2). Mr. Koivunemei noted the statute definition of a qualified voter, AS 15.60.010, Section 25: "A person who has the qualification of a voter, and is not disqualified as provided in Article 4, Section II, of the State Constitution". Discussion followed regarding the registered status of a voter at the time of signing a petition. JACK CHENOWETH, ATTORNEY, LEGISLATIVE LEGAL COUNSEL, LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AGENCY, explained that if the person was required to be registered at the time that they sign a petition, would require a change in the statute law. He pointed out that there are several pieces of legislation which could include that qualification stipulation. Co-Chair Foster MOVED to adopt committee substitute 9- LS0481\F, Chenoweth, 2/14/95, as the version before the Committee. Representative Mackie assured the Committee that the committee substitute only contained "house keeping changes" recommended by the Office of the Lt. Governor in order to make the legislation consistent with State statute. There being NO OBJECTION, to adoption of the committee 5 substitute, it was so ordered. Mr. Koivunemei recommended a language change to Page 4, Line 25, deleting "and" and inserting "or". Co-Chair Foster MOVED the language change recommended by Mr. Koivunemei. There being NO OBJECTION, it was adopted. Co-Chair Foster MOVED to report CS HB 132 (FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTIONS, it was so ordered. CS HB 132 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a zero fiscal note dated 2/15/95.