SB 161-POLITICAL PARTY DEFINITION  3:37:04 PM CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 161 "An Act relating to the definition of 'political party'; and providing for an effective date." 3:37:16 PM SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 161, credited a constituent for requesting this legislation. He explained that current law states that a political party must receive at least three percent of the total votes cast in a governor race, U.S. Senate race, or U.S. House of Representatives race to be recognized as an official political party. The concern expressed by smaller political parties is that the threshold varies considerably from election to election. He cited the example from the 2020 election when the threshold increased 27 percent because voter turnout increased. He highlighted that with passage of Ballot Measure 2, official party status will no longer be used to determine ballot access for state candidates. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated that SB 161 simplifies the process by changing the widely variable three percent threshold to a single threshold of 5,000 registered voters. This should save the Division of Elections both time and expense because they would no longer have to review the petitions from smaller political parties for them to appear on the ballot. 3:38:58 PM SENATOR COSTELLO asked how long ago the three percent threshold for recognition as a political party was established. 3:39:14 PM DAVID DUNSMORE, Staff, Senator Bill Wielechowski, Juneau, Alaska, offered to follow up with a detailed history. He also clarified that prior to passage of Ballot Measure 2, a political party could qualify to be on the ballot if their nominee got more than three percent of the votes or three percent of the registered voters were registered with that party. Only the second option is available today. 3:40:18 PM SENATOR REINBOLD observed that the threshold of three percent of registered voters seems to have eliminated the Green Party since 2000. She asked if he had talked to any party representatives. MR. DUNSMORE answered no, but the Green Party would be closer to the threshold if SB 161 were to pass. He directed attention to the graph he prepared based on Division of Elections data that shows the fluctuation in numbers of registered voters from 2010 to 2020. This year over 11,000 registered voters are needed for a political party to be officially recognized and about 8,000 registered voters were needed in the last presidential election. He reiterated that if SB 161 were to pass, the threshold would remain steady at 5,000. SENATOR REINBOLD asked if he agreed with her assessment that the bill could make a stronger two-party system. 3:41:59 PM MR. DUNSMORE replied the expectation is that the bill will not change the number of parties that voters see on the ballot because parties have had the ability to petition to appear on the ballot when they didn't reach the threshold. For example, in the last election the Alliance Party successfully petitioned to appear on the ballot although it had just 18 registered voters. SB 161 would save the Division of Elections from having to process petitions for parties that have demonstrated support from 5,000 voters. SENATOR REINBOLD expressed concern about the possibility of disenfranchising voters and she voiced her desire to hear from the Constitution Party, the Green Party, and others. She asked for confirmation that this would not affect the [Alaska Independence Party]. MR. DUNSMORE clarified that the bill would not affect nonpartisan candidates, but the threshold would apply to the Alaska Independence Party, which is well above the threshold. 3:43:58 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI summarized that current law requires a political party to receive three percent of the total votes cast in a race for governor, U.S. Senator, or U.S. House of Representatives to be recognized as a political party. SB 161 substantially lowers that number to 5,000 votes. He acknowledged that 5,000 was an arbitrary selection and he was amenable to lowering it somewhat if that was the committee's wish. 3:44:37 PM SENATOR HOLLAND expressed appreciation that the proposal broadens access. CHAIR SHOWER held SB 161 in committee for future consideration.