HB 46-PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOTS    REPRESENTATIVE MIKE HAWKER, prime sponsor, explained he became aware of the need for this legislation while campaigning in Eagle River. A number of people were concerned with the change in election laws relating to the primary elections. The concern stemmed from the requirement that voters had to declare some political party affiliation to access any of the ballots. HB 46 is carefully crafted to stay clear of any issues surrounding the initiative process or the overall theory behind the primary election process. It simply provides that, in addition to party ballots, a ballot would be available that would present only the propositions and/or ballot initiatives being voted on in that primary election. The ballot would be available to any qualified voter that chose that ballot rather than having to declare any party affiliation. The ballot would be a "no party" ballot which is not to be confused with a non-partisan or undeclared voter designation. There are voters with certain religious affiliations who have a proscription against partisan participation, but want to participate "in the advisory capacity as voters in this state." He said HB 46 is "a fix to a small area that I believe was overlooked in last year's election statutes." Certainly, no one voting favorably on this legislation would prejudice his or her own opinions on any of the larger issues related to the initiative and/or primary process in the State of Alaska. HB 46 very simply enfranchises the voters who were disenfranchised in the last election. SIDE B 4:20 pm CHAIR GARY STEVENS recapped HB 46 as legislation that would give voters who did not want to participate in partisan politics an opportunity to vote. REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER replied that is the full intent of the bill. SENATOR GRETCHEN GUESS said, "Anyone regardless of party can choose the ballot." REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER advised the technical structure of the bill provides that the Division of Elections shall prepare a ballot that only offers propositions. AS 15.25.060(b) reads, "A voter may vote only one primary election ballot." which encompasses all the available ballots. It then defines political party ballots. SENATOR GUESS asked if it would be a no party name ballot or an initiative only ballot. REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER repeated it is a ballot for initiatives and propositions only. Voters selecting this ballot would not have the opportunity to vote for people. SENATOR GUESS recommended he change his description from "no party" to "proposition only" because so many people associate no party with non-partisan. With regard to the fiscal note, she asked if it was his intent that the cost of this bill would be absorbed into the cost of a primary election. REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER explained he gave considerable attention to the statute regarding the preparation of a fiscal note before concluding that this was a zero fiscal note. That particular statute provides that the fiscal note is to present additional appropriation that may be necessary to implement the bill. The Division of Elections enters a budget cycle knowing there is an election coming, but they never know definitively how many ballots they will need to print. The division believes that this bill, in and of itself, would have no impact on their decision regarding how much to budget for printing costs. Of course there would be costs associated with printing the ballot, but those costs could be accommodated within the division's current year budget and future printing costs would not require them to accommodate an increment for HB 46. SENATOR HOFFMAN asked if there would be six or seven ballot choices with passage of this bill. REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER wasn't sure how many ballots were authorized, but this would be a ballot in addition to all the party ballots. SENATOR HOFFMAN remarked the additional option makes it a bit more complicated but less controversial. REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER agreed; any time an additional decision must be made it complicates matters a bit, but this would be an improvement because it would make it possible for more people to vote. He added the record shows they have strong support from the American Civil Liberties Union, political parties, and the Division of Elections. SENATOR GUESS noted the letter from Randy Ruedrich and remarked she was unclear whether he was extending his support of HB 46 as Commissioner on the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission or as State Chairman of the Republican Party of Alaska. There were no further questions asked of Representative Hawker. CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked Ms. Breeze whether the division was comfortable accepting the additional responsibility associated with passage of the legislation. MS. BREEZE stated the division had no trouble with the six ballot primary last year and they anticipated no difficulty adding an additional ballot. CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked how many ballots they anticipate this next year. MS. BREEZE informed him there are four ballots currently, but it is unclear what the total would be. There were no further questions asked of Ms. Breeze. CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked for a motion to move the bill. SENATOR COWDERY made a motion and asked for unanimous consent to move CSHB 46 and zero fiscal note from committee with individual recommendations. There being no objection, it was so ordered.