HB 129-VOTER REGISTRATION  3:15:13 PM CHAIR SHAW announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 129, "An Act relating to voter registration; and providing for an effective date." 3:15:55 PM REPRESENTATIVE SARAH VANCE, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB 129, on behalf of the House Judiciary Standing Committee. She presented the sponsor statement [included in the committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: House Bill 129 tackles Alaska's over-inflated voter rolls that are estimated to be around 113 percent! The challenge facing the Division of Elections to maintain current and accurate voter rolls is exacerbated by a highly transit population, automatic voter registration on the Permanent Fund Dividend application, and a current law that allows people to stay registered in the state as long as they have an "intent of returning." HB 129 addresses these concerns by requiring the director to send letters to confirm the address of all voters not domiciled in Alaska and an easier system to cancel voter registration. Furthermore, this bill adopts the best practices for verifying valid Alaskan voter status with multiple databases. Alaska is currently part of the ERIC system and does not have a 50-state data comparison in place to assure those voting in Alaska are domiciled in-state or are qualified to vote in our elections. This bill mandates adoption of a best practice voter registration system with a written maintenance schedule. The foundation of secure and trustworthy elections begins with accurate voter rolls. Over-registering voters makes our election system inaccurate and vulnerable to the actions of bad actors. Compromised data invites those with nefarious intent to exploit inactive voters and invites those who do not live in Alaska to influence our elections. HB 129 provides clear direction to help clean up our voter rolls to reflect a more accurate representation of the Alaskan electorate to build trust in our election system! REPRESENTATIVE VANCE directed attention to a PowerPoint presentation, titled "HB 29 Voter Registration" [included in the committee packet]. Slide 2 referenced an article from the Anchorage Daily News (ADN), titled "Why does Alaska have a 106% voter registration rate?" She discussed statistics related to over-registered voters in Alaska and how that could influence election outcomes, emphasizing the importance of cleaning up the voter rolls. 3:23:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE continued to slide 3, which outlined the following list of inclusions in the proposed legislation: annual review, review data breaches, compare eligible voters, specify databases, maintenance schedule, registration cancelation. She detailed the annual review on slide 4, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: January of each year, the director shall examine the master register, and shall send a notice requesting address confirmation or correction to each voter (4) who,...is not domiciled in the state REPRESENTATIVE VANCE discussed the review of data breaches on slide 5, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Regulations must provide for review of the register for data breaches,... State officials said "outside actors" accessed the data through a flaw in the online voter registration system, which has since been patched. They were able to pull registered voters' names, dates of birth, state identification numbers, last four digits of Social Security numbers, addresses and party affiliations. (Party affiliations, names and addresses are already publicly available through the state's voter information database.) ADN article Dec. 3, 2020 3:25:00 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE proceeded to slide 6, which highlighted the comparison of eligible voters as follows [original punctuation provided]: Compare persons eligible to vote in the state, • deceased voters • felons • not qualified to vote under AS 15.05 • persons registered to vote in another state 3:25:28 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE addressed the specification of databases on slide 7, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: The regulations must specify records and databases for use in reviewing the master register; • USPS National Change of Address Database • Electronic Registration Information Center • DMV records • Department of Corrections • Property & Sales Tax Records • Social Security Records • Municipal Assessor Database • Social Security Administration Death Index • Alien Database by Homeland Security • Jury Duty Records 3:26:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE detailed the maintenance schedule on slide 8, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: provide a report on the system to the Legislature on the first day of session inform a voter of the criteria to qualify as a voter and penalties for misconduct. • provide a report on the system to the Legislature on the first day of session • inform a voter of the criteria to qualify as a voter and penalties for misconduct. 3:26:49 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE concluded on slide 9, titled "Registration Cancellation," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: The director shall develop a process to allow a voter to cancel the voter ' s registration... • in person • before an election offical • electronically " email" • display instructions for a voter to cancel the voter ' s registration at each polling place. 3:29:55 PM CHAIR SHAW invited questions from members of the committee. REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD asked whether automatic voter registration via the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) application would be impacted by the bill. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE clarified that the automatic voter registration with the Permanent Fund Dividend Division, [Department of Revenue (DOR)], was unchanged in the bill. She explained that the data provided by the division was one of the most reliable and active databases for eligible Alaskan residents. REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD expressed concern about voters being registered automatically. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE recalled that the provision in question was passed in 2016. She shared her understanding that there were conversations being had about adding an "opt-in" selection for voter registration [on the PFD application]. 3:31:48 PM REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON asked whether the maintenance schedule [on slide 8] referred to voting equipment or the voter list. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE said the bill specifically referred to the master register voter list. 3:32:31 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY observed that the bill intended to use "best practices" to verify voter status. She asked how those best practices were developed. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE responded that the bill outlined the legislature's idea of best practices as a starting place. Ultimately, she said, best practices would be developed by the director of the Division of Elections (DOE). REPRESENTATIVE STORY inquired about current practices for undeliverable ballots. 3:35:10 PM MICHAELA THOMPSON, Administrative Operations Manager, DOE, responded that for by-mail elections in the City and Borough of Juneau, undeliverable ballots were processed by the division. She added that a note would be made on the voter's record specifying an undeliverable mail address. 3:35:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether the voter would be removed from the voter rolls if his/her ballot was undeliverable. MS. THOMPSON explained that the voter would be flagged as "undeliverable status," whereby a notice would be sent informing the individual that his/her registration would be inactivated unless a response was sent within 45 days. REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether there was a way to track a person's intent to return [to Alaska]. MS. THOMPSON indicated that a person's intent to return would be difficult to track. REPRESENTATIVE STORY requested a follow-up response from the division on that line of questioning. 3:38:15 PM REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD asked whether a person would be prohibited from voting as an Alaskan resident if he/she lived in a foreign country on a visa. MS. THOMPSON said federal law allowed individuals who live overseas with the intent to return to maintain their registration in Alaska and still participate in elections. She noted that those without the intent to return were still allowed to vote in federal elections. REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD considered the scenario of an ex-patriot who had retired in Thailand for the past five years with the intent to return to Alaska. She asked whether he/she was allowed to vote in municipal elections. 3:40:15 PM MS. THOMPSON deferred the question to Mr. Flynn. 3:40:25 PM THOMAS FLYNN, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Law (DOL), said many situations would be fact specific. He cited AS 15.05.020 [Rules for determining residence of voter], adding that declaring an intent to return allowed individuals to remain Alaskan residents. REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD opined that the "intent to return" needed to be further defined. She requested the legal definition of "intent to return." MR. FLYNN directed Representative Allard to AS 15.05.020. 3:41:56 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY pointed out that the sponsor statement for HB 129 criticized the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) system for not offering a 50-state comparison; however, she shared her understanding a 50-state comparison was not currently offered by any database. Further, the ERIC system offered a 32-state data comparison, she said, which was the most comprehensive this time. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE offered to follow up with the requested information on the sponsor's preferred database. REPRESENTATIVE STORY inquired about the cost of the ERIC system. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE deferred to DOE. REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether there had been data breaches in other systems. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE did not know the answer. 3:44:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked whether a voter could maintain a status of "intent to return" and also have an undeliverable mailing address on file. MS. THOMPSON answered yes, a person could be in DOE's system with an Alaska mailing address that was flagged as undeliverable. 3:45:51 PM CHAIR SHAW requested an overview of the fiscal note. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE said she had not received a fiscal note at this time. CHAIR SHAW shared his understanding that a zero fiscal note accompanied HB 129. 3:46:36 PM The committee took a brief at-ease. 3:48:04 PM CHAIR SHAW inquired about the zero fiscal note from DOE. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE said the zero fiscal note, as provided by DOE, referred to the voter registration list maintenance, which would require no additional funding at this time. 3:48:41 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY shared her understanding that notices would be sent to out-of-state voters for address confirmation, suggesting that there should be an estimated cost for postage. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE shared her understanding that, per the zero fiscal note, the cost could be absorbed by the division. 3:49:35 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked DOE to address the cost of out- of-state communications. 3:49:58 PM CAROL BEECHER, Director, DOE, explained that the division was already sending out notices for voter list maintenance purposes in addition to participating in the ERIC system. She anticipated that the bill could be implemented at no cost to the division. REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether registered voter addresses need to be residential, as opposed to commercial. MS. BEECHER deferred to Ms. Thompson. MS. THOMPSON said the division required an Alaska address. REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether the address could be a commercial address. MS. THOMPSON deferred to Mr. Flynn. MR. FLYNN explained that the Alaska Supreme Court had ruled PO boxes insufficient. Generally, he said, the address should be a residential address. He noted that if a person was without a home, a description of one's place of residence would suffice. He relayed that the division would not investigate whether an address on file was commercial or residential. 3:52:26 PM REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD observed that "intent of returning," as addressed under AS 15.05.020, was open ended. She asked whether an individual could leave the state for up to 20 years with the intent of returning while voting as an Alaskan resident for that time period. She asked for the legal definition of "intent of returning" or "intent." MR. FLYNN offered to follow up with the requested information. He directed attention to paragraph 8 under AS 15.05.020, which dictated that the address of a voter, as it appears on the official voter registration record, was the presumptive evidence of the person's voting residence. REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD remarked, "That's not an answer." 3:54:09 PM The committee took a brief at-ease. 3:54:29 PM CHAIR SHAW invited Representative Vance to offer closing remarks. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE, in response to Representative Story's inquiry into the alternate voter data system, named the Interstate Voter Registration [Crosscheck] (IVRC), which claimed to have more than 30 state members. She said the database was used similarly to the ERIC system for the purpose of synchronizing voter lists. 3:55:36 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked what kind of information the [IRVC] database used. REPRESENTATIVE VANCE referenced the supporting document titled, "Best Practices for Achieving Integrity in Voter Registration," by the Public Interest Legal Foundation [included in the committee packet]. She shared her understanding that the IRVC utilized the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) registration, voter registration address, last four digits of the social security number, birth date, and voter history; further, she indicated that the IRVC was less costly than the ERIC system. She noted that the bill did not prohibit the use of the ERIC system. Instead, it encouraged the use of additional data systems to provide further accuracy. 3:57:13 PM CHAIR SHAW announced that that bill was held over. HB 132-ELECTIONS: BALLOT, VOTING, SECURITY HB 129-VOTER REGISTRATION HB 130-ELECTION INTERFERENCE, FRAUD, MISCONDUCT HB 131-VOTING MACHINES AND VOTE TALLY SYSTEMS 4:37:44 PM CHAIR SHAW announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 132, "An Act relating to election security, voting, and ballots; and providing for an effective date" and HOUSE BILL NO. 129, "An Act relating to voter registration; and providing for an effective date" and HOUSE BILL NO. 130, "An Act relating to the crimes of unlawful interference with an election, election fraud, and election official misconduct; and providing for an effective date" and HOUSE BILL NO. 131 "An Act relating to voting machines and vote tally systems; and providing for an effective date." 4:38:23 PM REPRESENTATIVE SARAH VANCE, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB 132 on behalf of the House Judiciary Standing Committee. She provided the sponsor statement [included in the committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: HB 132 has a voter focused approach that seeks to increase public confidence in our elections with a means to cure a ballot, enhance cybersecurity, and implement an online multifactor authentication for each voter to protect Alaskan's individual information. Protecting the foundation of our representative form of government begins with protecting each ballot. This bill establishes a strict chain of custody protocol for ballots and tabulators from the printer to voter, to disposal, complete with a unique security identifier such as a barcode. To help alleviate concerns of misconduct, this bill enhances administrative procedure that brings integrity to the process of handling ballots and allows recruitment of a technical subject matter expert to conduct a full forensic audit of voting machines, tabulators, storage devices, and vote tally systems. HB 132 prioritizes Alaskan voters and the integrity of their vote so every eligible vote counts! 4:39:47 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE directed attention to a PowerPoint presentation, titled "HB 132 Elections; Ballot, Voting, Security" [included in the committee packet]. She emphasized the voter-focused aspects of the bill on slide 2, including: ballot security, ballot chain of custody, ballot tracking system, ballot curing, increased cybersecurity, and election offense hotline. 4:40:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE addressed ballot security on slide 3, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: • Security Identifier • Paper Record • Envelope-based Barcode • Signed Ballot Chain-of-Custody Document • Maintain Forensic Integrity of Ballots 4:40:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE continued to slide 4, titled "Ballot Tracking System," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Online multi-factor authentication system like used with your MyAlaska account. • confirm the ballot was sent • track ballot date of delivery • confirm receipt of ballot • determine review of voter's certificate • determine if vote has been counted • provide information to cure the ballot  • verify voter's identity • indicate the process to cure a ballot or reason • the vote was not counted 4:42:12 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE turned to slide 5, titled "Increased Cybersecurity," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Develop a cybersecurity program to defend voter registration records and provide cybersecurity training for election officials. 4:42:24 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE detailed the election offense hotline on slide 6, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: The director shall establish a toll free election offense hotline to receive calls reporting election offenses. • Continuously staffed during absentee voting hours, early voting, and 24 hours after polls open. • Election official available to respond to calls • Offense hotline number placed in conspicuous places. 4:43:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE concluded on slide 7, titled "Forensic Audits," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Grants the Legislative Council the power to contract with and appoint technical subject matter experts to conduct full forensic audits of election data, algorithms, software, and equipment, including precinct tabulators, storage devices, voting machines, and vote tally systems. 4:44:13 PM CHAIR SHAW requested a brief explanation of the fiscal note from DOE. 4:44:24 PM CAROL BEECHER, Director, DOE, stated that the fiscal note reflected the estimated costs incurred, such as non-permanent election clerks; ballot printing; professional services for IT consulting; software maintenance; forensic auditing; and ballot tracking software. 4:45:22 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY requested the definition of a "full forensic audit." REPRESENTATIVE VANCE clarified that that the bill would grant Legislative Council with the authority to find someone to conduct the forensic audits pending further definition from the legislature. She defined a forensic audit as "looking more at any potential fraud and activity that would deal with a criminal nature." REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether DOE could define "forensic audit." MS. BEECHER deferred to Mr. Flynn. 4:46:52 PM THOMAS FLYNN, Assistant Attorney General, DOL, said he was not aware of a statutory definition of "forensic audit." REPRESENTATIVE STORY inquired about the credentials or qualifications for those conducting a "forensic audit." REPRESENTATIVE VANCE indicated that the legislature could determine the subject matter expert for any activity deemed as deserving of more insight. 4:47:52 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER shared his understanding that the institutional knowledge of a "full forensic audit" was lacking because the state had never conducted on before. He recommended defining the parameters of a full "forensic audit" in statute. 4:49:31 PM REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON inquired about the cost of ballot printing. MS. BEECHER deferred to Ms. Thompson. MICHAELA THOMPSON, Administrative Operations Manager, DOE, shared her understanding that adding a watermark would require additional types of ballot printing paper. REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON asked whether the fiscal note reflected an estimate of costs or whether a request for information (RFI) or request for proposal (RFP) had been issued. MS. THOMPSON believed that the election program manager received an estimate from the current ballot printer. REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON expressed his interest in looking into the accuracy of fiscal notes and how they're derived. 4:51:09 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked how the chain of custody proposed in HB 132 would differ from existing chain of custody protocols. MS. BEECHER deferred to Ms. Thompson. MS. THOMPSON acknowledged that the division followed chain of custody procedures in all aspects of the election process. She further noted that the division had an existing portal that allowed voters to track the receival of their ballot in addition to processes for sending unused ballots back to the division and tracking spoiled ballots used in the precinct. REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked how the chain of [custody] worked with the United States Postal Service (USPS). MS. THOMPSON described the chain of custody. 4:54:32 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER requested an assessment from DOE comparing existing chain of custody procedures to the ones proposed in Section 2 HB 132. He suggested that existing chain of custody procedures could stand to be updated. 4:55:23 PM CHAIR SHAW opened public testimony on HB 132, HB 129, HB 130, and HB 131. 4:55:38 PM KAREN LEWIS, urged the legislature to return to a hand count system, opining that all machines could be manipulated. She read from a prepared statement. 4:59:10 PM PAMELA SAMASH, Concerned Conservatives of Alaska, opined that fair and honest elections were critical for a free society, opining that these bills were an important step towards making that possible. She urged the committee's support for HB 129, HB 130, HB 131, and HB 132. 5:00:26 PM JOHN MILLER expressed his support for the bills presented during the hearing "except for the machines." He offered several suggestions for election security. He opined that the bills were fundamental to ensuring that the people's voice was heard. 5:02:20 PM GERALD VOSS expressed his support for HB 129, HB 130, HB 131, and HB 132 and offered several suggestions for election security. 5:04:13 PM JOHN LETTOW expressed his support for the election bills presented during the hearing, stating his support for transitioning to a hand count. 5:05:43 PM MIKE COONS, President, Concerned Conservatives of Alaska, expressed support for HB 129, HB 130, HB 131, and HB 132 with "one caveat." 5:07:27 PM CHAIR SHAW stated that public testimony would be left open. He announced that HB 132 was held over.