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HB4

HB4: Presidential Write-In Votes

Last scannedSep 12, 2026, 4:46 AM

In one sentence

This bill changes Alaska election rules to list the names of presidential candidates instead of electors on the ballot and adds a space for voters to write in their own choices.

What it does

  • Requires ballots to list the actual names of presidential candidates instead of listing electors.
  • Adds a space on the general election ballot where voters can write in their own choice for President or Vice-President.
  • Updates instructions so that party labels next to candidate names do not mean the party officially supports them, with special notes added for federal elections stating some candidates are official nominees while others may only be registered as affiliated.
  • Sets rules stating that writing in a name already printed on the ballot does not cancel out the vote unless it looks like an attempt to identify the voter.

Who it affects

  • Voters who want to choose candidates for President or Vice-President by writing their names.
  • The state director of elections responsible for designing and printing ballots.
  • Candidates running for U.S. President and Vice-President in Alaska general elections.

Limits and unknowns

  • The provided text cuts off before finishing the specific rules for counting write-in votes for President and Vice-President.
  • The effective date of when these changes will start is not listed in the source material.
  • It does not explain if voters need to register a name beforehand or how many times they can mark a ballot.

Plain language

Terms to know

Write-in candidate
A person whose name is not printed on the ballot but whom a voter writes by hand to vote for.
Electors
People chosen by political parties who officially cast votes in the Electoral College, which this bill replaces with candidate names on the ballot.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

PRESIDENTIAL WRITE-IN VOTES An Act relating to write-in candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) REFERRED TO RULES1583
  2. (H) FN2: ZERO(GOV)1583
  3. (H) DP: UNDERWOOD, KOPP, COSTELLO, MINA, GRAY1583
  4. (H) JUD RPT 5DP1583
  5. (H) Minutes (HJUD)Min
  6. (H) Moved HB 4 Out of CommitteeText
  7. (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
  8. (H) Minutes (HJUD)Min
  9. (H) Heard & HeldText
  10. (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
  11. (H) FN1: ZERO(GOV)1279
  12. (H) DP: VANCE, MCCABE, HOLLAND, STORY, HIMSCHOOT, CARRICK1279
  13. (H) STA RPT 6DP1279
  14. (H) Minutes (HSTA)Min
  15. (H) Moved HB 4 Out of Committee -- Delayed to 15 min Following Session --Text
  16. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
  17. (H) Minutes (HSTA)Min
  18. (H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 4:15 pm--Text
  19. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
  20. (H) Minutes (HSTA)Min