SSTA - 4/13/95 SB 146 ELECTION CODE AND ADMINISTRATION SENATOR SHARP brings up SB 146 as the next order of business before the Senate State Affairs Committee and calls the first witness. Number 527 SHERMAN ERNOUF, Aide to Senator Kelly, prime sponsor of SB 146, reads the sponsor statement for the bill. Number 540 MR. ERNOUF reviews the sectional analysis on SB 146. Number 560 MR. ERNOUF notes that three amendments proposed by Senator Kelly have been submitted to the committee; members have those amendments in their bill files. SENATOR DUNCAN asks if any employees of the Division of Elections will be able to join collective bargaining units. DAVID KOIVUNIEMI, Acting Director of the Division of Elections, responds that no employees will be able to join a collective bargaining unit. SENATOR DUNCAN asks if presently employees of the Division of Elections are members of collective bargaining units. Number 588 MR. KOIVUNIEMI responds, "No." Presently, all employees of the division are in the exempt service. The amendment would retain employees in the exempt service, however, they would be granted some protections. TAPE 95-18, SIDE B Number 591 MR. KOIVUNIEMI states that the status of directors and supervisors would not change at all. However, other full-time employees of the division would have some protections and could only have employment terminated for cause. There would be a grievance procedure, and the department would be able to have a probationary period. The main objective is to prohibit what occurred in the division four years ago, when the whole division was wiped out. Number 581 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asks what the Lieutenant Governor Ulmer's position is on SB 146. MR. KOIVUNIEMI replies that the lieutenant governor supports the amendments. SENATOR DUNCAN asks if the lieutenant governor supports the bill. MR. KOIVUNIEMI responds that the only sections Lieutenant Governor Ulmer has not endorsed are those relating to the placement of names on the primary election ballot by party petition. She is taking a neutral position on that section. Number 560 SENATOR LEMAN asks which amendment repeals paying $0.50 for each voter registration. MR. KOIVUNIEMI replies it is in amendment #1. That has not been a cost-efficient program. For example, in March of 1995, we paid registrars a total of $74.50. The administration cost for doing so was about $200 just for computer time; that does not include staff time. With mandatory voter registration at the Department of Motor Vehicles and several other state agencies, we have registered over 19,900 voters just since January 1st of this year. We are also working with the Permanent Fund Dividend Division to develop voter registration on pfd applications. SENATOR LEMAN asks if the division supports the section relating to rotation of names. MR. KOIVUNIEMI responds that the division does support that section. It is estimated that provision will save about $105,000. Number 528 SENATOR DUNCAN asks if there have been studies that show whether or not rotating names on the ballot has an effect on how people vote. MR. KOIVUNIEMI replies that in the studies he has seen, there appears to be an impact in non-partisan, low-profile races, such as water district board elections. In those types of races, it is usually the first and last position on the ballot that get the most votes. But in higher profile races, from city council on up, there is no discernable impact related to placement of names on the ballot. Number 515 [There is a general discussion regarding the ballot rotation process.] SENATOR LEMAN, SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS, and SENATOR DUNCAN all express concern about changing the ballot rotation process. Number 428 SENATOR DUNCAN makes a motion to adopt amendment #1. CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, states amendment #1 has been adopted. Number 422 SENATOR LEMAN makes a motion to adopt amendment #2. CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, states amendment #2 has been adopted. SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS makes a motion to adopt amendment #3. CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, states amendment #3 has been adopted. Number 406 CHAIRMAN SHARP expresses concern regarding Section 17. MR. KOIVUNIEMI responds that section states that petition candidates will have to appear on the primary election ballot, and not just on the general election ballot. CHAIRMAN SHARP, after hearing that explanation, states he has no further concern with Section 17. SENATOR DUNCAN asks what happens if a candidate dies after the primary election. MR. KOIVUNIEMI replies that it depends on when they die: if a candidate dies more than 48 days before the general election, then their name will be removed from the ballot. A political party can make a substitution to a race for specific reasons, such as the death, resignation, withdrawal, disqualification, etcetera, of a candidate. SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS makes a motion to delete Section 7. Number 365 CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, states Section 7 has been deleted. Number 362 SENATOR LEMAN asks if there is a specific reason to require the ballots to be printed on white paper. MR. KOIVUNIEMI responds that is what is required in the general election. SENATOR LEMAN understands that the ballots should be the same color, but asks if there is any reason to specify white. Is it less expensive? BARB WHITING, Division of Elections replies it is probably cheaper and easier to read. SENATOR LEMAN asks, if there is an off-white, recycled paper that is cheaper than white paper, would the division be able to use the recycled paper? MR. KOIVUNIEMI replies the division would consider something like that to be white. SENATOR LEMAN makes a motion to discharge SB 146 from the Senate State Affairs Committee with individual recommendations. Number 345 CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, orders SB 146 released from committee with individual recommendations.