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HB43

Alaska HB43: Updates to Voter Registration, Residence Rules, and Ballot Languages

Last scannedSep 8, 2026, 12:47 AM

In one sentence

This bill changes Alaska laws by requiring voters to live in their district for at least 30 days before an election, clarifying rules about what counts as a home address, allowing voters to choose ballot languages required by federal law, accepting electronic signatures on registration forms, and setting specific deadlines for when mailed or digital forms must be received.

What it does

  • Requires voters to have lived in the state and their house district for at least 30 days just before an election.
  • Clarifies that temporary work sites do not count as a person's home address for voting purposes.
  • Allows voters to choose which language they want their ballots printed in, limited only to languages required by federal law (52 U.S.C. 10503).
  • Permits the use of electronic signatures on voter registration forms sent by mail or other approved digital methods.
  • Sets deadlines requiring mailed forms to be postmarked at least 30 days before an election, and electronically submitted forms to be received at least 30 days before.

Who it affects

  • People who want to register to vote in Alaska
  • Voters living on military bases, Indian reservations, or in state homes like the Pioneers' Home or Veterans' Home
  • The Division of Elections and local area election supervisors

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill only allows ballot languages required by federal law; it does not specify which specific languages those will be.
  • The provided text ends before finishing all details about forms submitted late or incorrectly, though it mentions they go on the master register.

Plain language

Terms to know

Residence
The place where a person lives permanently with a plan to return, not just a temporary work site or short-term stay.
Master Register
A list used for voter registration applications that do not meet the deadline requirements for an upcoming election but are kept on file.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

ELECTIONS, VOTING, BALLOTS An Act relating to elections; relating to voters; relating to the crime of unlawful interference with voting; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) REFERRED TO FINANCE1187
  2. (H) FN1: (GOV)1187
  3. (H) AM: STORY1187
  4. (H) DNP: VANCE, MCCABE, MOORE1187
  5. (H) DP: HOLLAND, HIMSCHOOT, CARRICK1187
  6. (H) STA RPT CS(STA) NEW TITLE 3DP 3DNP 1AM1187
  7. (H) Minutes (HSTA)Min
  8. (H) Moved CSHB 43(STA) Out of CommitteeText
  9. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
  10. (H) Minutes (HSTA)Min
  11. (H) Heard & HeldText
  12. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
  13. (H) Minutes (HSTA)Min
  14. (H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --Text
  15. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
  16. (H) COSPONSOR(S): HIMSCHOOT305
  17. (H) COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN188
  18. (H) Minutes (HSTA)Min
  19. (H) Heard & HeldText
  20. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120Text