HB 250-VOTER REGISTRATION AGE    4:31:39 PM CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 250, "An Act relating to voter preregistration for minors at least 16 years of age." 4:31:56 PM REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS presented HB 250 as prime sponsor by paraphrasing from his written statement, which read: Co-Chairs Kreiss-Tomkins and Fields, fellow members of the State Affairs Committee Committee, thank you for hearing this HB 250 today. For the record, my name is Grier Hopkins, Representative for House District 4, and I'd like to mention that Amy Gallaway, a civics educator out of Fairbanks and Alaska's Teacher of the Year is online to answer any questions. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today on this important issue. I am honored to sponsor HB 250 as part of ongoing efforts in the legislature to take a detailed look at ways to improve our electoral process, but also bring a new focus to how we prepare young Alaskans to become active and informed voters. This legislation was inspired largely by discussions I've had with young Alaskans, local educators, and fellow legislators. Fundamentally, HB 250 is about increasing access, knowledge, and participation in our democracy. HB 250 would allow young Alaskans who are at least 16 years old to pre-register to vote. It does not change the  current legal age for voting, it simply extends the ability for young Alaskans to voluntarily pre-register to vote before they become eligible voters. Additionally, this bill does not affect the automatic voter registration through the PFD application for a few key reasons. The automatic voter registration only applies to Alaskan citizens who meet the eligibility requirements to be able to vote. 16 and 17-year old's cannot legally vote, and will therefore not be included in the automatic registration if they file for their PFD. Through the expansion of our statute to include citizens who are 16 years old, we create a longer period of time where young Alaskans are aware of the rights they will gain upon turning 18 and can begin to develop the habits of informed and engaged voters. Moreover, allowing pre-registration gives our teachers, families, and communities the tools to develop young Alaskans into informed and confident voters. When students turn 16, they have already begun taking government, history, and civics classes. Providing pre-registration opportunities in the classroom offers real and tangible steps for students to take that give them real world experience. Additionally, pre-registration is increasingly common across the nation, with 23 states and the District of Columbia offering some form of preregistration before an individual turn [sic] 18. The results in these places have shown increases in younger voter participation and the indicators of beginning long term voting habits. 4:34:50 PM For example, in Florida, analysis of state voter files indicates that in 2008 pre-registrants were 4.7% more likely to vote than those who registered after they turned eighteen and the number of preregistrations went from 65,000 in 2004, to nearly 78,000 in 2008. Additionally, a study from Duke University, by John Holbein and D. Hillygus, which is attached on Basis, found that preregistration increases the probability that young voters will participate in elections by an average of 2 percentage points to 13 percentage points and has similar impacts on young Democrats and young Republicans. Furthermore, in an additional study, "Voter Pre- registration Programs success of preregistration is maximized when election officials and educators act as partners. This is why we have been working with local educators, organizations, and stakeholders to determine the best method to approach this. I'd like to note that we have received letters of support from Amy Gallaway, a civics teacher and Alaska Teacher of the Year, the Alaska Center Education Fund, Kids Voting North Alaska, Native Movement, and Maida Buckley, the 2019 Governor's Arts & Humanities Awards and former educator. I have been going back to my high school alma mater for about 10 years and every year that teacher asks the class, "who here is registered to vote?" Out of an over 20 student class, only a few raise their hands. HB 250 will allow more of those engaged citizens to raise their hands and participate in our democracy. We have before us the potential to proactively work to engage young Alaskans in a new and innovative manner. HB 250 empowers families, communities and educators to foster civic engagement from a younger age, while also adding an additional opportunity to ensure that every citizen in Alaska is registered to vote. That concludes my presentation and I will be happy to answer any questions the committee may have. 4:37:53 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether Representative Hopkins considered a bill to allow students to vote at age 16. She mentioned that she has heard interest from students, who have stated that such a law would encourage not just the students to vote more and talk about issues, but families as well. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS answered that in some locations, 16-year- olds may vote in local elections. He expressed his desire to keep the bill simple and to utilize the approach offered under HB 250 to encourage dialogue and civic engagement, thus, expanding voter participation for state, local, and national elections. CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS offered that the Alaska State Constitution states that the voting age is 18; changing it would require a constitutional amendment. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE referred to the fiscal note (FN) analysis, included in the committee packet, which read: The division will need to consult with the Department of Law to determine if the information of these minors is protected and not intended to be released in any lists available from the division. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE pointed out the concern for privacy of minors, because the Division of Elections (DOE) does not interact with minors. She asked whether HB 250 would require more regulations for DOE. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS stated that the $75,000 in the FN would be used to promulgate regulations if needed. The new voters under HB 250 would not be active voters, therefore, would not be on the voter rolls. Much of the voter information is public. Currently someone 17 years of age may register to vote if turning 18 within 30 days of an election; they are minors when they register. The $75,000 would provide financial assistance to the division to implement the process. 4:41:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked why Representative Hopkins feels it is important to change the registration age to 16 to increase participation, when there is already an opportunity for early registration at age 17. She mentioned that she has always taken her children to the voting place and given them a sample ballot to read and vote. She maintained that encouraging participation could be done without burdening DOE. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS answered that he is a strong advocate for finding ways to enfranchise more voters. He maintained that the FN of $75,000 would not be a significant burden to DOE. He offered that it is critical to give younger and engaged citizens the opportunity to practice the skill of being a voter and being engaged. He said that his parents also took him voting. He stated that younger voters are in the lowest percentage of voter turnout; they may be engaged as young children but then engagement drops off after high school. He offered that registering would not be required, but it would offer an opportunity to grow into the process and give teachers another tool for bringing students into the discussion and process. 4:45:30 PM CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS added that there is data and evidence that show increased ability to (indisc.). REPRESENTATIVE VANCE mentioned that part of the engagement of voting is being registered to vote, and currently in Alaska, automatic registration occurs through the permanent fund dividend (PFD) application. She asked how automatic registration would impact young voters registering early under HB 250. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS answered that the young voters would not be eligible for automatic voter registration through the PFD application, because they would not be 18. Automatic registration begins once a person turns 18. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked whether there are other states with automatic voter registration. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS replied that he didn't know but directed her to the bill packet which lists the 23 states with pre-18 voter registration and the options. CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS added that there are 20-25 states with some form of automatic voter registration but none like the automatic registration through the Alaska PFD application. 4:48:06 PM AMY GALLAWAY testified in support of HB 250 as the 2020 Alaska Teacher of the Year and addressed Representative Vance's question about the need for early voter registration at age 16. She stated that when she asks her students ages 14-18 about accompanying their parents to the voting place, only about 1 in a class of 30 respond that they do so. She maintained that to prepare students to be citizens, teachers must pair real-life relevant opportunities with the learning in school. She mentioned the activities she employs - Kids Voting [USA], candidate forums, invited speakers - and stated that if she can pair the process and importance of registering to vote with those activities, it provides students with an understanding of how the system works. She said that schools and teachers are non-partisan, therefore, can offer the amazing aspect of being in a representative democracy - that each person's voice matters. She maintained that by having teachers register 16- year-olds to vote, the teachers can explain all aspects of the process; the process becomes more relevant; it allows students to ask questions and be supported, it empowers them to vote and to continue to vote. She mentioned that youth ages 18-24 represented about 6 percent of the electorate in the last election. REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked Ms. Gallaway to describe how registering students to vote would occur in the schools. MS. GALLAWAY responded that teachers often have students do civic projects in class. She mentioned the Youth Ambassadors Program, in which 16-17-year-olds can volunteer at the polls. She said that for student engagement in the civic activities, teachers can offer registering to vote with assistance from registrars, registration drives, and the League of Women Voters. In connection to the school activities and what is taught, students can have a relevant experience and be prepared to vote at age 18. REPRESENTATIVE STORY acknowledged the low voter turnout and asked for confirmation that early registration would help more families vote, when the students in the families are voting. MS. GALLAWAY answered that she has already witnessed that outcome. As a civics educator, she is constantly teaching about the elections and requires her students to discuss elections with parents. She maintained that if students are registering to vote, the conversations about citizen responsibility are even further encouraged, and students may pressure their parents to vote as well. 4:53:58 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked whether Ms. Gallaway is limited in her ability to teach anything about voting and civics without HB 250. MS. GALLAWAY replied that the limit is in the form of students feeling a lack of authenticity regarding the school civic projects they do, because they don't really have a "voice." She asserted that being able to engage in the legitimate legal registration process gives authenticity to students and breaks down the last barrier of disconnect. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE expressed her concerns about parental rights issues and giving more responsibility to schools. She said that if schools take on more responsibility, it will encourage parents to do less, and parents should be encouraged to do more to engage their children. She acknowledged the importance of good civics educators, but expressed that parents have the responsibility to teach their children and she doesn't want to see schools take over this area of responsibility. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS stated that the proposed legislation would drive dialogue in classrooms and at home. [HB 250 was held over.]