Alaska Legislature Moves Forward with Election Reform Bill
JUNEAU, Alaska – On October 25, 2024, early voters lined up in Anchorage as the Alaska Legislature progressed on election reform, advancing Senate Bill 64 (SB 64) to the House. Designed to enhance accessibility and security, the bill aims to expedite election result reporting and has garnered bipartisan support.
Sen. Bill Wielechowski, a key proponent, described SB 64 as a “compromise bill” with input from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, emphasizing that it tackles long-standing issues in Alaska’s electoral process. Notable provisions include allowing voters to correct mistakes on absentee ballots—an approach utilized by two-thirds of other states—eliminating the witness signature requirement on ballot envelopes, and ensuring that the state covers mailing costs for absentee ballots.
Currently, Alaska has the slowest ballot counting process in the nation. The bill proposes a 10-day deadline for counting mail-in ballots, facilitating earlier results certification. Additionally, SB 64 aims to reinforce election security, establish cybersecurity protections for voter records, and streamline the removal of ineligible voters from registration lists.
Although enjoyed bipartisan support, the Senate approved the bill along party lines, with a 14-6 vote split. Some lawmakers, such as Sen. Mike Shower, are advocating for stricter safeguards, including a proposal for indefinite absentee ballot access, which he believes could pose integrity concerns.
Key stakeholders, including the Alaska Federation of Natives and the League of Women Voters of Alaska, have endorsed the bill, while lawmakers quickly move through the process to ensure its potential implementation before the 2026 election. Anchorage Rep. Calvin Schrage emphasized the urgency, citing the need to prevent disenfranchisement. With past legislative attempts failing, there is a renewed determination to pass meaningful election reforms this session.
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