ELECTIONS, VOTING, BALLOTS

HB0043b -1- CSHB 43(STA)
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CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 43(STA)

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY THE HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Offered: 5/14/25
Referred: Finance

Sponsor(s): REPRESENTATIVES SCHRAGE, Edgmon, Burke, Holland, Galvin, Himschoot
A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to elections; relating to voters; relating to voter registration; relating to 1
election administration; relating to the crime of unlawful inte rference with voting; 2
relating to campaign signs; relating to the Alaska Public Offices Commission; relating to 3
public official financial disclosures; and providing for an effective date." 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 5
* Section 1. AS 15.05.010 is amended to read: 6
Sec. 15.05.010. Voter qualification. A person may vote at any election who 7
(1) is a citizen of the United States; 8
(2) is 18 years of age or older; 9
(3) has been a resident of the state and of the house district in which 10
the person seeks to vote for at least 30 days just before the election; and 11
(4) has registered [BEFORE THE ELECTION] as required under 12
AS 15.07 and is not registered to vote in another jurisdiction. 13
* Sec. 2. AS 15.05.020 is amended to read: 14
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Sec. 15.05.020. Rules for determining residence of voter. For the purpose of 1
determining residence for voting, the place of residence is gov erned by the following 2
rules: 3
(1) A person may not be considered to have gained a residence solely 4
by reason of presence nor may a person lose it solely by reason of absence while in the 5
civil or military service of this state or of the United States or of absence because of 6
marriage to a person engaged in the civil or military service o f this state or the United 7
States, while a student at an institution of learning, while in an institution or asylum at 8
public expense, while confined in public prison, while engaged in the navigation of 9
waters of this state or the United States or of the high seas, while residing on [UPON] 10
an Indian or military reservation, or while residing in the Ala ska Pioneers' Home or 11
the Alaska Veterans' Home. 12
( 2 ) T h e r e s i d e n c e o f a p e r s o n i s t h a t p l a c e i n w h i c h t h e p e r s on's 13
physical habitation is fixed, and to which, whenever absent, the person h a s an 14
articulable and reasonable plan [THE INTENTION] to return. If a person resides in 15
one place, but does business in another, the former is the pers on's place of residence. 16
Temporary work sites do not constitute a dwelling place. 17
(3) [A CHANGE OF RESIDENCE IS MADE ONLY BY THE ACT 18
OF REMOVAL JOINED WITH THE INTENT TO REMAIN IN ANOTHER 19
PLACE.] There can only be one residence. 20
(4) A person does not lose reside nce if the person leaves home and 21
goes to another country, state, or place in this state for temp orary purposes only and 22
with the intent of returning to the person's residence. 23
(5) A person does not gain residence in any place to which the person 24
comes without the present intention to establish a permanent dwelling at that place. 25
(6) A person loses residence in this state if the person establishes 26
residence in another state or votes in another state's election, either in person or by 27
absentee ballot, and will not be eligible to vote in this state until again qualifying 28
under AS 15.05.010. 29
(7) The term of residence is computed by including the day on which 30
the person's residence begins and excluding the day of election. 31
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(8) The address of a voter as it appears on the official voter registration 1
record is presumptive evidence of the person's voting residence . This presumption is 2
negated [ONLY] if the voter notifies the director in writing of a change of voting 3
residence. When a voter's qualification is questioned under AS 15.15.210 o r 4
challenged in accordance with the procedure adopted in regulati on under 5
AS 15.20.215, the presumption may be rebutted by providing evid ence to the 6
division that the voter has established residence in another st ate or place in this 7
state or evidence that the voter is not a resident under (2) - (7) of this section. 8
* Sec. 3. AS 15.07.060 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 9
(g) The division shall provide an applicant the opportunity to designate, from 10
among the written languages in whi ch the division is required t o print election 11
materials under 52 U.S.C. 10503, as amended, the language in wh ich the applicant 12
prefers to receive ballots and other election materials printed for an election. The 13
division shall provide the appli cant with ballots and election materials in the 14
applicant's designated language unless the applicant designates a l a n g u a g e i n w h i c h 15
the division is not required to print ballots and election mate rials. The division shall 16
notify an applicant when ballots and election materials printed in the designated 17
language are not available and allow the applicant another oppo rtunity to designate a 18
language under this subsection. The division shall provide an a pplicant with ballots 19
and election materials in the designated language until the earlier of the date that 20
(1) the applicant's voter registration is inactivated or cancelled; or 21
(2) the division is no longer required under 52 U.S.C. 10503, as 22
amended, to print ballots and election materials in the designated language. 23
(h) An applicant who requests re gistration within 30 days befo re an election 24
shall supply a declaration stating whether the applicant establ ished residency at least 25
30 days before the date of the election in 26
(1) the state; 27
(2) the house district in which the applicant seeks to vote at the 28
election. 29
* Sec. 4. AS 15.07.070(b) is amended to read: 30
(b) To register by mail or by facsimile, scanning, or other el ectronic 31
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transmission approved by the director under AS 15.07.050, the d irector, the area 1
election supervisor, or a voter r egistration agency shall furnish, at no cost to the voter, 2
forms prepared by the director on which the registration inform ation required under 3
AS 15.07.060 shall be inserted by the voter, by a person on beh alf of the voter if that 4
person is designated to act on behalf of the voter in a power of attorney, or by a person 5
on behalf of the voter if the voter is physically incapacitated . The director shall 6
accept the electronic signature of the voter or a person acting on behalf of the 7
voter. The director may require proof of identification of the applic ant as required by 8
regulations adopted by the dir ector under AS 44.62 (Administrat ive Procedure Act). 9
Upon receipt and approval of the completed registration forms, the director or the 10
election supervisor shall forwa rd to the voter an acknowledgmen t, and the voter's 11
name shall immediately be placed on the master register. If the registration is denied, 12
the voter shall immediately be informed in writing that registration was denied and the 13
reason for denial. When identifying information has been provid ed by the voter as 14
required by this chapter, the ele ction supervisor shall forward to the voter a 15
registration card. 16
* Sec. 5. AS 15.07.070(c) is amended to read: 17
(c) The names of persons submitting completed registration forms by mail that 18
are postmarked at least 30 days before the next election, or su bmitting completed 19
registration forms by facsimile or other electronic transmissio n approved by the 20
director under AS 15.07.050 that are received at least 30 days before the next election, 21
shall be placed on the official registration list for that elec tion. If a registration form 22
received by mail less than 30 days before an election does not have a legible and dated 23
postmark, the name of the person submitting the form shall be p laced on the official 24
registration list for that election if the form was signed and dated by the person at least 25
30 days before the election and if the form is received by the director or election 26
supervisor at least 25 days before the election. The name of a person submitting a 27
completed registration form by mail or by facsimile or other el ectronic transmission 28
that does not meet the applicable requirements of this subsection may not be placed on 29
the official registration list for that election but shall be p laced on the master register 30
after that election. A person submitting a completed registration form that does 31
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not meet the requirements of this subsection for placement on t he master register 1
for the next election but who complies with AS 15.07.060(h) may vote an absentee 2
in-person, special needs, or questioned ballot at that election. 3
* Sec. 6. AS 15.07.070(d) is amended to read: 4
(d) Qualified voters may register in person before a registrat ion official or 5
through a voter registration agency at any time throughout the year. A qualified voter 6
who registers [, EXCEPT THAT A PERSON REGISTERING] within 30 days before 7
or on the day of an election may vote only an absentee in-person, special needs, or 8
questioned ballot [PRECEDING AN ELECTION IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE] at 9
that election. The division may not reject the absentee in-person, special nee ds, or 10
questioned ballot of a qualified voter who registers within 30 days before or on 11
the day of an election on the grounds that the voter is not on the official 12
registration list for the election. Upon receipt and approval of the registration forms, 13
the director or the election supervisor shall forward to the voter an acknowledgment in 14
the form of a registration card, and the voter's name shall imm ediately be placed on 15
the master register. Names of persons registering 30 or more da ys before an election 16
shall be placed on the official registration list for that election. 17
* Sec. 7. AS 15.07.070(h) is amended to read: 18
(h) The director shall desig n the form of the voter's certific ate appearing on 19
the envelope that is used for voting an absentee in-person , special needs, o r 20
questioned ballot so that all in formation required for registra tion by AS 15.07.060(a) 21
may be obtained from a voter who votes an absentee in-person , special needs, o r 22
questioned ballot. The form must include the instruction that a person registering 23
to vote using the voter's certificate who wishes to declare the person's affiliation 24
should complete the affiliation section on the certificate. If the voter voting an 25
absentee in-person, special needs, or questioned ballot has completed all information 26
on the voter registration portion of the absentee in-person , special needs, o r 27
questioned ballot voter's certif icate, the director shall place the name of the voter on 28
the official registration list. 29
* Sec. 8. AS 15.07.090(b) is amended to read: 30
(b) A voter shall reregister if the voter's registration is cancelled as provided in 31
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AS 15.07.130. A person reregistering under this subsection may vote only an 1
absentee in-person, special needs, or questioned ballot until [ T H E 2
REREGISTRATION IS EFFECTIVE FOR] the next election that occurs at least 30 3
days after the date of reregistration. The division may not reject the absentee in-4
person, special needs, or questioned ballot of a qualified vote r who reregisters 5
within 30 days before or on the day of an election on the groun ds that the voter is 6
not on the official registration list for the election. 7
* Sec. 9. AS 15.07.090(c) is amended to read: 8
(c) The director shall transfer the registration of a voter fr om one precinct to 9
another within a house district when requested by the voter. If a [THE] request is 10
[SHALL BE] made within 30 [OR MORE] days before [THE] election day or on 11
election day, a person transferri ng registration to a new preci nct may vote only 12
an absentee in-person, special needs, or questioned ballot. The division may not 13
reject the absentee in-person, special needs, or questioned bal lot of a qualified 14
voter who transfers registration within 30 days before or on the day of an election 15
on the grounds that the voter is not on the official registration list for the election. 16
The director shall transfer the registration of a voter from one house district to another 17
when requested by the voter. The voter must reside in the new h ouse district for at 18
least 30 days in order to vote a ballot for that district. 19
* Sec. 10. AS 15.07.090(d) is amended to read: 20
(d) A person who claims to be a registered voter, but for whom no evidence of 21
registration in the precinct can be found, may vote only an ab sentee in-person, 22
special needs, or questioned ballot. The division may not rejec t the absentee in-23
person, special needs, or questioned ballot of a qualified vote r who registers 24
within 30 days before or on the day of an election on the groun ds that the voter is 25
not on the official registration list for the election [SHAL L BE GRANTED THE 26
RIGHT TO VOTE IN THE SAME MANNER AS THAT OF A QUESTIONED 27
VOTER AND THE BALLOT SHALL BE TREATED IN THE SAME MANNER. 28
THE BALLOT SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO BE A "QUESTIONED BALLOT" 29
AND SHALL BE SO DESIGNATED. THE DIRECTOR OR THE DIRECTOR'S 30
REPRESENTATIVE SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER THE VOTER IS 31
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REGISTERED IN THE HOUSE DISTRICT BEFORE COUNTING THE BALLOT. 1
A VOTER WHO HAS FAILED TO OBTAIN A TRANSFER AS PROVIDED IN (c) 2
OF THIS SECTION SHALL VOTE A "QUESTIONED BALLOT" IN THE 3
PRECINCT IN WHICH THE VOTER RESIDES]. 4
* Sec. 11. AS 15.07.130(a) is amended to read: 5
(a) Periodically, at times of t he director's choosing, but not [ N O ] l e s s 6
frequently than in January of each calendar year, the director shall examine the master 7
register maintained under AS 15.07.120 and shall send, by forwardable 8
[NONFORWARDABLE] mail to the voter's registration mailing addre ss, and to the 9
voter's electronic mail address, if available , a notice requesting address 10
confirmation or correction . The notice must explain that the voter's registration 11
will be inactivated unless the voter responds to the notice wit hin 45 days after the 12
date the notice is sent. The director shall send the notice to each voter 13
(1) whose mail from the division has been returned to the divi sion in 14
the two years immediately preceding the examination of the register; 15
(2) who has not contacted the division in the two years immedi ately 16
preceding the examination of the register and [; OR (3)] who has not voted or 17
appeared to vote in the two general elections immediately prece ding the examination 18
of the register; or 19
(3) who the division has learned, after registering to vote in t h i s 20
state and during the period encompassing the two general electi ons immediately 21
preceding the examination of the register, has 22
(A) registered to vote in another state; 23
(B) received a driver's license from another state; 24
(C) registered a vehicle in another state; 25
(D) received public assistance from another state; 26
(E) served on a jury in another state; 27
(F) obtained a resident hunting or fishing license in another 28
state; 29
(G) paid the state resident tuition rate for a public 30
university in another state; 31
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(H) received a homestead or residential property tax 1
exemption in another state; or 2
(I) received a benefit available only to residents of another 3
state. 4
* Sec. 12. AS 15.07.130(e) is amended to read: 5
(e) For purposes of (b) and (d) of this section, a voter "appears to vote" if 6
(1) the voter is present at a polling place or at an early [ABSENTEE] 7
voting station designated under AS 15.20.045(b) at a time when the polling place or 8
early [ABSENTEE] voting station is operating, for the purpose of casting a vote; 9
(2) the voter applies to the division to obtain an absentee ballot; or 10
(3) in an election conducted by mail under AS 15.20.800, a vot er who 11
has not received a ballot by mail makes a timely request to the division for a ballot. 12
* Sec. 13. AS 15.07 is amended by adding a new section to read: 13
Sec. 15.07.133. Process to cancel registration. The director shall develop a 14
process to allow a voter to cancel the voter's registration ele ctronically or in person 15
before an election official. The director shall prominently dis play instructions for a 16
voter to cancel the voter's registration at each polling place. 17
* Sec. 14. AS 15.10.105 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 18
(c) The director shall employ five rural community liaisons an d assign each 19
liaison to a region of the state in a manner that ensures each part of the state has one 20
rural community liaison. The rural community liaisons shall col laborate with tribes, 21
municipalities, corporations inc orporated under AS 10.06, regio nal nonprofit 22
corporations, and other community organizations to facilitate a ccess to early and 23
absentee voting in rural areas of the state and ensure that pre cincts in rural areas of the 24
state are fully staffed. 25
* Sec. 15. AS 15.13.020(j) is amended to read: 26
(j) The commission shall establish offices [AN OFFICE, WHICH MAY BE 27
CALLED A REGIONAL OFFICE, IN EACH SENATE DISTRICT IN THE STATE 28
TO KEEP ON FILE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION COPIES OF ALL REPORTS 29
FILED WITH THE COMMISSION BY CANDIDATES FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE 30
AND BY CANDIDATES FOR LEGISLATIVE OFFICE IN THAT DISTRICT; 31
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HOWEVER, WHERE ONE MUNICIPALITY CONTAINS MORE THAN ONE 1
HOUSE DISTRICT, ONLY ONE COMMISSION OFFICE SHALL BE 2
ESTABLISHED IN THAT MUNICIPALITY. THE REGIONAL OFFICE SHALL 3
MAKE ALL FORMS AND PERTINENT MATERIAL AVAILABLE TO 4
CANDIDATES. ALL REPORTS SHALL BE FILED BY CANDIDATES, GROUPS, 5
AND INDIVIDUALS DIRECTLY WITH THE COMMISSION'S CENTRAL 6
DISTRICT OFFICE. THE COMMISSION SHALL ENSURE THAT COPIES OF 7
ALL REPORTS BY STATEWIDE AND LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES IN EACH 8
SENATE DISTRICT ARE FORWARDED PROMPTLY TO THAT DISTRICT OR 9
REGIONAL OFFICE]. 10
* Sec. 16. AS 15.15.060(a) is amended to read: 11
(a) Immediately following the appointment of the election boar d, the election 12
supervisor in conjunction with t he election board chair shall s ecure polling places for 13
holding the election, suitable ballot boxes that will ensure [ASSURE] security, and an 14
adequate number of voting booths o r screens, national flags, pe ns, and pencils. At 15
every polling place, at least one voting booth shall be furnish ed and not less than one 16
voting booth or screen shall be furnished for each 100 votes or fractional part of 100 17
votes cast in the previous election. [AT EVERY POLLING PLACE, A T LEAST 18
ONE-HALF OF THE VOTING BOOTHS USED SHALL BE NOT LESS THAN SIX 19
FEET IN HEIGHT, ENCLOSED ON THREE SIDES, AND PROVIDED WITH A 20
CURTAIN EXTENDING FROM THE TOP OF THE VOTING BOOTH TO 21
WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 30 INCHES OF THE FLOOR. THE CURTAIN OF 22
THE VOTING BOOTH MUST CONCEAL THE VOTER WHILE VOTING.] The 23
election supervisor and the election board chair may, in an eme rgency, secure an 24
alternate location for a polling place. 25
* Sec. 17. AS 15.15.060(b) is amended to read: 26
(b) To ensure [ASSURE] administrative economy and to protect the secrecy 27
of the ballot, the director may adopt regulations prescribing 28
(1) the type of polling place for holding the election; 29
(2) the requirements regarding ballot boxes, voting screens, n ational 30
flags, and other supplies; and 31
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(3) [SUBJECT TO THE SPECIFICATIONS OF (a) OF THIS 1
SECTION,] the requirements regarding voting booths. 2
* Sec. 18. AS 15.15.060 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 3
(f) At each polling place, the division shall provide language assistance as 4
required under 52 U.S.C. 10503, as amended. An election supervisor shall post at each 5
polling place information regarding the availability of languag e assistance in English 6
and all other languages for which language assistance is required to be provided in the 7
jurisdiction under federal law. 8
* Sec. 19. AS 15.15 is amended by adding a new section to read: 9
Sec. 15.15.205. Questioning of voter who requested absentee bal lot. If a 10
voter appears on the official registration list as having recei ved or voted an absentee 11
ballot, the election official sha ll affirmatively advise the vo ter that the voter may 12
surrender the absentee ballot fo r destruction or cast a questio ned ballot. If the voter 13
does not surrender the absentee ballot, the voter shall be allo wed to vote a questioned 14
ballot. 15
* Sec. 20. AS 15.15.370 is amended to read: 16
Sec. 15.15.370. Results [COMPLETION] of ballot count [; 17
CERTIFICATE]. When the count of ballots is comp leted, and in no event later t han 18
the day after the election, the election board shall make a cer tificate in duplicate of the 19
results. The certificate includes the number of votes cast for each candidate, including, 20
for a candidate in a general election, the number of votes at e ach ranking performed 21
[ROUND OF THE RANKED-CHOICE TABULATION PROCESS] under 22
AS 15.15.350, the number of votes for and against each proposit ion, yes or no on each 23
question, and any additional information prescribed by the director. The election board 24
shall, immediately upon completion of the certificate or as soo n thereafter as the local 25
mail service permits, send in one sealed package to the directo r one copy of the 26
certificate and the register. In addition, all ballots properly cast shall be mailed to the 27
director in a separate, sealed package. Both packages, in addit ion to an address on the 28
outside, shall clearly indicate the precinct from which they co me. Each board shall, 29
immediately upon completion of the certification and as soon th ereafter as the local 30
mail service permits, send the duplicate certificate to the res pective election 31
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supervisor. The director may a uthorize election boards in preci ncts in those areas of 1
the state where distance and weather make mail communication un reliable to forward 2
their election results by telephone or radio. The director may authorize the unofficial 3
totaling of votes on a regional basis by election supervisors, tallying the votes as 4
indicated on duplicate certificates. If the director publishes unofficial results, the 5
director shall include, for each candidate, the subsequent cand idate rankings 6
selected by the voters who ranked that candidate as the voters' fir s t c ho ic e . T o 7
ensure adequate protection, the director shall prescribe the ma nner in which the 8
ballots, registers, and all other election records and material s are thereafter preserved, 9
transferred, and destroyed. 10
* Sec. 21. AS 15.15.370 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 11
(b) Each day that the director releases unofficial totals of e lection results for a 12
general election, the director s hall also release an updated ra nked-choice tabulation 13
and identify the precincts that have been counted. 14
* Sec. 22. AS 15.15.380 is amended to read: 15
Sec. 15.15.380. Payment of election board members. The director shall pay 16
each election board member for time spent at election duties, i ncluding the receiving 17
of instructions. Election board c hairpersons and the chairperso n and members of the 18
absentee ballot, questioned ballo t, and state ballot counting r eview boards shall be 19
paid for time spent at their election duties. The director shal l set the compensation to 20
be paid under this section . The director may reduce the compensation to be paid 21
under this section only by regulation. 22
* Sec. 23. AS 15.15.420 is amended to read: 23
Sec. 15.15.420. Duty to review the ballot counting. The director shall review 24
the counting of the ballots under [WITH] the observance [ASSISTANCE] of and in 25
the presence of the appointed representatives from the politica l parties. A candidate 26
fo r a n o f fic e t ha t is o n t he ba llo t s be i ng c o un t e d a nd a p po int ed representatives 27
from the group supporting and from the group opposing a ballot proposition may 28
be present and observe. 29
* Sec. 24. AS 15.15.430(a) is amended to read: 30
(a) The review of ballot counting by the director must [SHALL] include 31
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[ONLY (1)] a review of the precinct registers, tallies, and bal lots cast . The review 1
must include [; (2)] a review of absentee and questioned ballots as prescri bed by law. 2
The review must include, for each house district except a house district where all 3
races on the ballot are uncontested [; AND (3) UNLESS THE BALLOT FOR THE 4
HOUSE DISTRICT CONTAINS NOTHING BUT UNCONTESTED OFFICES], a 5
hand count of ballots from one r andomly selected precinct in the [EACH] house 6
district that accounts for at leas t five percent of the ballots cast in that district. The 7
director may adopt regulations prescribing additional review pr ocedures 8
employing statistical methods to limit the risk of certifying a n election result that 9
would be inconsistent with the result that would be obtained by conducting a 10
recount. 11
* Sec. 25. AS 15.20.030 is amended to read: 12
Sec. 15.20.030. Preparation of ballots, envelopes, and other ma terial. The 13
director shall provide ballots for u s e a s a b s e n te e b a llo ts in all districts. The director 14
shall provide a secrecy sleeve in which the voter shall initially place the marked ballot, 15
and shall provide a postage-paid return [AN] envelope with the prescribed voter's 16
certificate on it, in which the secrecy sleeve with ballot encl osed shall be placed. The 17
director shall prescribe the form of and prepare the voter's ce rtificate, envelopes, and 18
other material used in absentee voting. The voter's certificate shall include a 19
declaration, for use when required, that the voter is a qualifi ed voter in all respects, a 20
blank for the voter's signature , and a space for recording the date that the voter 21
signed the certificate. An envelope may not identify a voter's party affiliation [, A 22
CERTIFICATION THAT THE AFFIANT PROPERLY EXECUTED THE 23
MARKING OF THE BALLOT AND GAVE THE VOTER'S IDENTITY, BLANKS 24
FOR THE ATTESTING OFFICIAL OR WITNESS, AND A PLACE FOR 25
RECORDING THE DATE THE ENVELOPE WAS SEALED AND WITNESSED]. 26
The envelope with the voter's cer tificate must include a notice that false statements 27
made by the voter [OR BY THE ATTESTING OFFICIAL OR WITNESS] on the 28
certificate are punishable by law. 29
* Sec. 26. AS 15.20.045 is amended to read: 30
Sec. 15.20.045. Designation of absen tee voting officials and st ations. (a) 31
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The director or election supervis o r m a y d e s i g n a t e p e r s o n s t o a ct as absentee voting 1
officials under AS 15.20.010 - 15.20.220 in areas where electio n supervisors do not 2
have offices. Magistrates may, w ith the approval of the adminis trative director of the 3
Alaska Court System, be designated under this section. At least 30 [15] days before 4
the election the director shall supply each absentee voting off icial with appropriate 5
ballots. 6
(b) The director may designate by regulation [ADOPTED UNDER AS 44.62 7
(ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT)] locations at which early [ABSENTEE] 8
voting stations will be operated for persons to vote absentee ballots on or after the 9
30th [15TH] day before an election up to and including the date of the election. The 10
director shall supply these [ABSENTEE] voting stations with absentee ballots for all 11
house districts in the state and shall designate absentee votin g officials to serve at the 12
[ABSENTEE] voting stations. 13
(c) In a municipality in which the division will not be operat ing an early 14
[ABSENTEE] voting station under this section , the director may designate the 15
municipal clerk as an absentee voting official for the limited purpose of distributing 16
absentee ballots to qualified voters under AS 15.20.061(a)(1) a nd qualified voters' 17
representatives under AS 15.20.072. At least 30 [15] days before the election, the 18
director shall supply municipal clerks designated under this su bsection with absentee 19
ballots. 20
* Sec. 27. AS 15.20.050 is amended to read: 21
Sec. 15.20.050. Requirement of full public notice. The director shall give full 22
public notice of the dates and manner of voting absentee and ma y select any means of 23
communication permitted to be used in giving notice of the date and time of the 24
general election. The director shall give notice under this sec tion of the location of 25
early [ABSENTEE] voting stations designated under AS 15.20.045(b) at least 45 26
days before each election. 27
* Sec. 28. AS 15.20.061(a) is amended to read: 28
(a) A qualified voter may apply in person for an absentee ball ot to the 29
following election officials at the times specified: 30
(1) to an absentee voting official on or after the 20th [ 1 5 T H ] d a y 31
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before an election up to and including the date of the election; 1
(2) to an election supervisor on or after the 20th [15TH] day before an 2
election up to and including the date of the election; 3
(3) to an absentee voting official at an early [ABSENTEE] voting 4
station designated under AS 15.20.045(b) on or after the 20th [15TH] day before an 5
election up to and including the date of the election; 6
(4) to an absentee voting official in the precinct in which no volunteers 7
can be located to serve on the election board on or after the 20th [15TH] day before an 8
election up to and including election day. 9
* Sec. 29. AS 15.20.064(a) is amended to read: 10
(a) For 20 [15] days before an election and on election day, a qualified voter 11
who meets the requirements set out in this section may vote in locations designated by 12
the director. 13
* Sec. 30. AS 15.20.064 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 14
(e) If a voter fails to satisfy the requirements of (b) of thi s section, the voter 15
shall be allowed to vote an absentee ballot in the manner provided in AS 15.20.061. 16
* Sec. 31. AS 15.20.072(b) is amended to read: 17
(b) The voter may, through a representative, request a special needs ballot 18
from the following election officials at the times specified: 19
(1) from an absentee voting official on or after the 30th [15TH ] day 20
before an election, up to and including election day; 21
(2) from an election supervisor on or after the 30th [15TH] day before 22
an election up to and including election day; 23
(3) from an absentee voting official at an early [ABSENTEE] voting 24
station designated under AS 15.20.045(b) on or after the 30th [15TH] day before an 25
election up to and including the date of the election; or 26
(4) from a member of the precinct election board on election day. 27
* Sec. 32. AS 15.20.072 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 28
(h) If a voter satisfies the re quirements of (d) of this secti on, the division may 29
not reject a voter's special needs ballot based on an error by an election official or 30
representative on the register under (c) of this section or an error by a representative 31
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under (d) of this section. 1
* Sec. 33. AS 15.20.081(d) is amended to read: 2
(d) Upon receipt of an absentee ballot by mail, the voter [, I N THE 3
PRESENCE OF A NOTARY PUBLIC, COMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE 4
ARMED FORCES INCLUDING THE NATIONAL GUARD, DISTRICT JUDGE 5
OR MAGISTRATE, UNITED STATES POSTAL OFFICIAL, REGISTRATION 6
OFFICIAL, OR OTHER PERSON QUALIFIED TO ADMINISTER OATHS,] may 7
proceed to mark the ballot in secret, to place the ballot in th e secrecy sleeve, to place 8
the secrecy sleeve in the envel ope provided, and to sign the vo ter's certificate on the 9
envelope. The [IN THE PRESENCE OF AN OFFICIAL LISTED IN THIS 10
SUBSECTION WHO SHALL SIGN AS ATTESTING OFFICIAL AND SHALL 11
DATE THE SIGNATURE. IF NONE OF THE OFFICIALS LISTED IN THIS 12
SUBSECTION IS REASONABLY ACCESSIBLE, AN ABSENTEE VOTER 13
SHALL SIGN THE VOTER'S CERTIFICATE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN 14
INDIVIDUAL WHO IS 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, WHO SHALL SIGN AS 15
A WITNESS AND ATTEST TO THE DATE ON WHICH THE VOTER SIGNED 16
THE CERTIFICATE IN THE INDIVIDUAL'S PRESENCE, AND, IN ADDITION, 17
THE] voter shall certify, as prescribed in AS 09.63.020, under penalty of perjury, that 18
the statements in the voter's certification are true. 19
* Sec. 34. AS 15.20.081(e) is amended to read: 20
(e) An absentee ballot must be marked on or before the date of the election. 21
Except as provided in (h) of this section, a voter who returns the absentee ballot by 22
mail, whether provided to the voter by mail or by electronic tr ansmission, shall use a 23
mail service at least equal to first class and mail the ballot not later than the day of the 24
election to the election supervis or for the house district in w hich the voter seeks to 25
vote. Except as provided in AS 15.20.480, the ballot may not be counted unless it is 26
received by the close of business on the 10th day after the election. [IF THE BALLOT 27
IS POSTMARKED, IT MUST BE POSTMARKED ON OR BEFORE ELECTION 28
DAY.] After the day of the election, ballots may not be accepte d unless received by 29
mail. A ballot received after the day of the election that is not pos tmarked or is 30
postmarked after the day of the election may not be counted unl ess the ballot 31
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envelope is marked with a United States Postal Service tracking barcode 1
sufficient to verify that the ballot was mailed on or before th e day of the election 2
or with a division of elections b allot tracking barcode suffici ent to verify that the 3
ballot was mailed on or before the day of the election. 4
* Sec. 35. AS 15.20.081 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 5
(m) If a voter requests under AS 15.07.060(g) or, at least 45 days before an 6
election, requests in writing or by other means designated in r egulations adopted by 7
the director to receive a ballot in a language other than English in which the division is 8
required to print election materials under 52 U.S.C. 10503, as amended, the director 9
shall provide the voter with a ballot and election materials un der this section in the 10
language requested. 11
* Sec. 36. AS 15.20.201(a) is amended to read: 12
(a) Not [NO] less than 10 [SEVEN] days preceding the day of election, the 13
election supervisor, in the pre sence and with the assistance of the district absentee 14
ballot counting board, shall begin to review all voter certificates and envelopes o f 15
absentee ballots received by that date. The review of absentee ballots shall continue at 16
times designated by the election supervisor until completed. An absentee ballot may 17
not be counted until the accompanying voter certificate has been reviewed. 18
* Sec. 37. AS 15.20.201(b) is amended to read: 19
(b) Counting of absentee ballots that have been reviewed shall begin not less 20
than 10 days preceding [AT 8:00 P.M., LOCAL TIME, ON] the day of the election 21
at places designated by each election supervisor and shall cont inue until all absentee 22
ballots reviewed and eligible f or counting have been counted. T he counting teams 23
shall report the first count of absentee ballots to th e district absentee ballot coun ting 24
board not later than [. AN ELECTION SUPERVISOR OR AN ELECTION 25
OFFICIAL MAY NOT COUNT ABSENTEE BALLOTS BEFORE] 8:00 p.m., loca l 26
time, on the day of the election. Counting of the absentee ball ots shall continue at 27
times designated by the election supervisor until all absentee ballots are counted. 28
* Sec. 38. AS 15.20.203(b) is amended to read: 29
(b) The board shall reject an [ AN] absentee ballot [MAY NOT BE 30
COUNTED] if 31
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(1) the voter has failed to properly sign [EXECUTE] the certificate; 1
(2) [AN OFFICIAL OR THE WITNESSES AUTHORIZED BY LAW 2
TO ATTEST THE VOTER'S CERTIFICATE FAIL TO EXECUTE THE 3
CERTIFICATE, EXCEPT THAT AN ABSENTEE BALLOT CAST IN PERSON 4
AND ACCEPTED BY AN ABSENTEE VOTING OFFICIAL OR ELECTION 5
SUPERVISOR MAY BE COUNTED DESPITE FAILURE OF THE ABSENTEE 6
VOTING OFFICIAL OR ELECTION SUPERVISOR TO PROPERLY SIGN AND 7
DATE THE VOTER'S CERTIFICATE AS ATTESTING OFFICIAL AS REQUIRED 8
UNDER AS 15.20.061(c); 9
(3) THE BALLOT IS NOT ATTESTED ON OR BEFORE THE 10
DATE OF THE ELECTION; 11
(4)] the ballot envelope and certificate, if delivered by mail after the 12
day of the election [POSTMARKED], 13
(A) is [NOT] postmarked after [ON OR BEFORE] the date of 14
the election; or 15
(B) has a United States Postal Service tracking barcode or a 16
division of elections ballot tracking barcode verifying that th e ballot was 17
mailed after the date of the election; 18
(3) [(5)] after the day of election, the ballot was delivered by a means 19
other than mail; or 20
(4) [OR (6)] the voter voted 21
(A) in person and is a 22
(i) first-time voter who initially registered by mail or by 23
facsimile or other electronic transmission approved by the dire ctor 24
under AS 15.07.050, has not provided the identification require d by 25
AS 15.15.225(a), was not eligible for waiver of the identificat ion 26
requirement under AS 15.15.225(b), and has not provided the 27
identifiers required in AS 15.07.060(a)(2) and (3) that can be verified 28
through state agency records described in AS 15.07.055(e); or 29
(ii) voter other than one described in (i) of this 30
subparagraph, did not provide i dentification described in 31
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AS 15.15.225(a), was not personally known by the election offic ial, 1
and has not provided the iden tifiers required in AS 15.07.060(a)(2) and 2
(3); or 3
(B) by mail or electronic transmissi on, is a first-time voter who 4
initially registered by mail or by facsimile or other electroni c transmission 5
approved by the director under AS 15.07.050 to vote, has not me t the 6
identification requirements set out in AS 15.07.060, and does n ot submit with 7
the ballot a copy of a 8
(i) driver's license, state identification card, current and 9
valid photo identification, birth certificate, passport, or hun ting or 10
fishing license; or 11
(ii) current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, 12
government check, or other gover nment document; an item describ ed 13
in this sub-subparagraph must show the name and current address o f 14
the voter. 15
* Sec. 39. AS 15.20.220(b) is amended to read: 16
(b) The state review board sha ll review and count absentee bal lots under 17
AS 15.20.081(e) and (h), absentee ballots properly cured under AS 15.20.222, and 18
questioned ballots that have been forwarded to the director and that have not been 19
reviewed or counted by a district counting board. 20
* Sec. 40. AS 15.20 is amended by adding a new section to read: 21
Sec. 15.20.222. Procedure for curing uncounted ballot. (a) If a voter returns 22
a ballot that is rejected because the certificate is missing a signature or the voter 23
provided insufficient voter iden tification, the director shall immediately make a 24
reasonable effort to contact the voter, explain the ballot defi ciency, explain how the 25
deficiency may be cured, and inform the voter of the deadline t o cure the ballot. The 26
director shall, within 24 hours, a ttempt to begin sending notic es of deficiency by 27
electronic mail to the voter's electronic mail address if the v oter has provided an 28
electronic mail address. If the voter has provided a telephone number, the director 29
shall, within 24 hours, attempt to notify the voter of the defi ciency by telephone call 30
and text message. The director shall, within 48 hours and not l ater than five days after 31
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election day, send a notice of deficiency by first class, nonfo rwardable mail to the 1
address on the voter's registration record. 2
(b) A notice of deficiency must include a form for the voter to confirm that the 3
voter returned a ballot to the d ivision and provide a copy of a form of identification 4
accepted by the division under AS 15.15.225(a). The director sh all provide a printed 5
copy of the form with the notice of deficiency mailed to the vo ter. The director shall 6
also make the form available in a format that can be completed and returned 7
electronically. 8
(c) The rejected ballot of a voter who received a notice of de ficiency may be 9
counted only if 10
(1) the voter returns the form sent with the notice of deficie ncy, the 11
division receives the form within 14 days after election day, a nd the form confirms 12
that the voter returned a ballot to the division; 13
(2) the voter provides a signat ure and includes a copy of a fo rm of 14
identification accepted by the division under AS 15.15.225(a); and 15
(3) the ballot is otherwise valid. 16
(d) The director shall, if applicable, send copies of the sign ature on the voter's 17
return envelope and the signature stored in voter registration records to the attorney 18
general for investigation if the voter returns the form and the form indicates that the 19
voter did not return a ballot to the division. 20
* Sec. 41. AS 15.56.030(d) is amended to read: 21
(d) For purposes of (a)(2) and (3) of this section, "other valuable thing" 22
(1) includes 23
(A) an entry in a game of chance in which a prize of money or 24
other present or future pecuniar y gain or advantage may be awar ded to a 25
participant wherein the total of the prizes offered is greater than $2 per 26
participant with a maximum of $100; and 27
(B) government employment or benefits; 28
(2) does not include 29
(A) materials having a nominal value bearing the name, 30
likeness, or other identification of a candidate, political par ty, political group, 31
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party district committee, or organization, or stating a positio n on a ballot 1
proposition or question; 2
(B) food and refreshments provided incidental to an activity 3
that is nonpartisan in nature and directed at encouraging perso ns to vote, or 4
incidental to a gathering in support of or in opposition to a c andidate, political 5
party, political group, party di strict committee, organization, or ballot question 6
or proposition; 7
(C) care of the voter's depende nts provided in connection with 8
the absence of a voter from home for the purpose of voting; 9
(D) services provided by a person acting as a representative 10
under AS 15.20.072; 11
(E) services provided by an el ection official as defined in 12
AS 15.80.010; [AND] 13
(F) transportation of a voter to or from the polls without 14
charge; and 15
(G) postage-paid return envelopes required in 16
AS 15.20.030. 17
* Sec. 42. AS 15.58.030(h) is amended to read: 18
(h) The lieutenant governor shall prepare and publish on the division's Internet 19
website the photograph and statem ent of a candidate for an offi ce designated under 20
(a), (b), or (g) of this section. The lieutenant governor shall indicate that the 21
photograph and statement are provi ded and paid for by the candi date. A photograph 22
and a statement of a candidate that have been timely filed with the lieutenant governor 23
shall be published on the website at least 30 [15] days before an election at which the 24
candidate will appear on the ballot. 25
* Sec. 43. AS 15.80 is amended by adding a new section to read: 26
Sec. 15.80.006. Cybersecurity. The director shall, by regulation, develop a 27
cybersecurity program to defend the voter registration records kept by the division 28
against cyber attacks and data breaches and enable the division to detect and recover 29
from cyber attacks. The program must include cybersecurity trai ning for election 30
officials. 31
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* Sec. 44. AS 19.25.105(a) is amended to read: 1
(a) Outdoor advertising may not b e erected or maintained withi n 660 feet of 2
the nearest edge of the right-of-way and visible from the main- traveled way of the 3
interstate, primary, or secondary highways in this state except the following: 4
(1) directional and other official signs and notices that [ W H I C H ] 5
include [, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO,] signs and notices pertainin g to natural 6
wonders, scenic and historic a ttractions, which are required or authorized by law, and 7
which shall conform to federal standards for interstate and primary systems; 8
(2) signs, displays, and devices advertising the sale or lease of property 9
on [UPON] which they are located or advertising activities conducted on the property; 10
(3) signs determined by the state, subject to concurrence of t he United 11
States Department of Transportation, to be landmark signs, incl uding signs on farm 12
structures or natural surfaces of historic or artistic signific ance, the preservation of 13
which would be consistent with the provisions of this chapter; 14
(4) directional signs and notices pertaining to schools; 15
(5) advertising on bus benches or bus shelters, and adjacent t rash 16
receptacles, if the state determines that the advertising confo rms to local, state, and 17
federal standards for interstate and primary highways; 18
(6) temporary political campaign signs not larger than 32 squa re 19
feet in size displayed on private property if the owner or resi dent of the property 20
is not being compensated for the display, the sign is not a ris k to the public, and 21
the sign is outside of an interstate, primary, or secondary highway right-of-way. 22
* Sec. 45. AS 24.45.091 is amended to read: 23
Sec. 24.45.091. Publication of reports. Copies of the statements and reports 24
filed under this chapter shall be made available to the public at the commission's 25
offices [CENTRAL OFFICE], the office of the lieutenant governor, and the legislative 26
reference library of the Legislative Affairs Agency [, AND AT THE COMMISSION'S 27
DISTRICT OFFICES PRESCRIBED IN AS 15.13.020(j)] as soon as prac ticable after 28
each reporting period. 29
* Sec. 46. AS 29.20.380(c) is amended to read: 30
(c) The municipal clerk may act as an absentee voting official under 31
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AS 15.20.045(c) for the limited purpose of distributing absente e ballots to qualified 1
voters or qualified voters' r epresentatives under AS 15.20.072 in a municipality in 2
which the division of elections will not be operating an early [ABSENTEE] voting 3
station under AS 15.20.045(b). 4
* Sec. 47. AS 29.26.050 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 5
(d) Except as a municipality may require for elections held on ly in specific 6
local election districts or service areas under (b) of this section, a person who has lived 7
within the municipality for at least 30 days, but who has not r egistered to vote in state 8
elections at a residence addre ss within the municipality at lea st 30 days before a 9
municipal election, may vote only an absentee, special needs, o r questioned ballot in 10
that election. The municipality may not reject the absentee, sp ecial needs, or 11
questioned ballot of a qualified voter who registers within 30 days before or on the day 12
of an election on the grounds that the voter is not on the offi cial registration list for the 13
election. 14
* Sec. 48. AS 39.50.020(b) is amended to read: 15
(b) A public official, [OR] former public official, or candidate for municipal 16
office [OTHER THAN AN ELECTED OR APPOINTED MUNICIPAL OFFICER] 17
shall file the statement with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Candidates for the 18
office of governor and lieutenant governor and, if the candidat e is not subject to 19
AS 24.60, the legislature shall f ile the statement under AS 15. 25.030. The Alaska 20
P u b l i c O f f i c e s C o m m i s s i o n s h a l l p r o v i d e c o p i e s o f t h e s t a t e m e n ts filed by 21
municipal [MUNICIPAL] officers, former municipal officers, and candidate s for 22
elective municipal office to [SHALL FILE WITH] the applicable municipal clerk or 23
other municipal official designated to receive the statements [THEIR FILING FOR 24
OFFICE]. All statements required to be filed under this chapter are public records. 25
* Sec. 49. AS 29.26.050(a)(3) is repealed. 26
* Sec. 50. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 27
read: 28
APPLICABILITY. AS 15.56.030(d), as amended by sec. 41 of this A ct, applies to 29
offenses committed on or after the effective date of sec. 41 of this Act. 30
* Sec. 51. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026. 31