HB 115 - PERMANENT ABSENTEE VOTING  2:34:02 PM CHAIR RAMRAS announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 115, "An Act establishing a permanent absentee voting option for qualified voters; and providing for an effective date." [Before the committee was CSHB 115(STA).] 2:34:35 PM REPRESENTATIVE BOB BUCH, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor, indicated that HB 115 would simply make voting via absentee ballot more convenient [by providing voters with the option of registering as a permanent absentee voter for state elections], that it would make no other changes to Alaska's voting process, and that providing for permanent absentee voting status] has met with great success. Currently, 8 other states have a similar option available, and 21 other states are considering adopting similar legislation. In response to questions, he relayed that the Division of Elections supports HB 115, and that the bill would help those in the military and those who are [housebound]. CHAIR RAMRAS expressed concern that HB 115 would be used by military personnel to commit more permanent fund dividend (PFD) fraud. REPRESENTATIVE BUCH offered his belief that it would not, that existing safeguards within the Division of Elections and the United States Postal Service (USPS) regarding absentee ballots/voting are sufficient to prevent any such increase in fraudulent PFD filings. Under the bill, a person must first apply with the Division of Elections for permanent absentee voter status, and then [if the application is approved] the Division of Elections would send the person an absentee ballot [each appropriate election cycle]. CHAIR RAMRAS reiterated his concern, but acknowledged that military personnel are not the only ones who commit PFD fraud. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG noted that members' packets include a letter from the Division of Elections dated February 24, 2010, that addresses the issue of fraud. He also noted that when the bill was heard in its last committee of referral, a concern was raised regarding whether the bill has potential constitutional or legal problems. That concern has been addressed via a memorandum from Legislative Legal and Research Services dated February 23, 2010; this memorandum indicates that under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, the bill's proposed changes to Alaska's voting practices/procedures require preclearance [by the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) Civil Rights Division]. 2:43:07 PM PHIL KEISLING relayed that he served as Oregon's secretary of state from 1991 through 1999; and that in 1995, Oregon implemented a statutory permanent absentee voting provision to address the fact that as the result of a "get out the vote" strategy, election officials were getting deluged prior to every election with requests for absentee ballots. People liked the convenience of voting by mail, but didn't like having to request an absentee ballot for every election. Furthermore, there were costs associated with processing new absentee ballot requests every election. The permanent absentee voting provision has proved to be very popular, has reduced costs, has increased voter turnout, has reduced the chance of mistakes, and has made it easier to detect election fraud. 2:50:34 PM GAIL FENUMIAI, Director, Central Office, Division Of Elections, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, in response to questions, said that the Division of Elections doesn't believe that HB 115 would contribute to any increased incidents of voter fraud; that during her 12-plus years with the Division of Elections, she hasn't ever encountered any voter fraud resulting from Alaska's absentee ballot process; that she is unable to speak to the issue of PFD fraud; that the Division of Elections has spoken with a former Oregon election official who had nothing but positive things to say about its permanent absentee voting provision by mail system, feeling that it enhanced the opportunity for voters to participate in the election process; and that at this time she is not able to provide any statistics regarding the eventual increased voter turnout in Oregon. REPRESENTATIVE BUCH indicated that members' packets contain information illustrating that at times, Oregon experienced a voter turnout of up to 80 percent due to that state's permanent absentee voting provision. REPRESENTATIVE GATTO, referring to statistics provided in a letter from the president of the American Postal Workers Union dated February 10, 2010, indicated that he is questioning what impact HB 115 would have on the integrity of Alaska's voting process. MS. FENUMIAI, in response to questions and comments, offered her understanding of how the voting system works in Oregon; stated that as the director of the Division of Elections, she believes it's important for everyone who is eligible to vote, to vote; and said she would prefer not to pass personal judgment on voters who may not be living in the state. REPRESENTATIVE BUCH, in response to questions, indicated that voters could benefit from the adoption of HB 115 because it would be safer for them to receive their ballots by mail rather than risk having to get themselves to their election district's voting venue; and that he had not asked anyone from the Permanent Fund Dividend Division to come speak on HB 115 because his intention with the bill is to address the issue of elections, not PFDs or PFD fraud, which he surmised, is already being adequately addressed by the Permanent Fund Dividend Division. The committee took an at-ease from 3:01 p.m. to 3:02 p.m. CHAIR RAMRAS indicated a belief that HB 115 should also address the issue of PFD fraud, and relayed that HB 115 would therefore be held over.