Democracy at Work: It’s Not Always Pretty
The focus this week is on how Alaskans participate in the voting process—from how voter data is managed, to how young people are introduced to civic engagement, to potential federal changes affecting voter registration. It was a week that captured the legislative process in a nutshell: opposing views, hard decisions, long debates, and even, yes, political posturing.
At the federal level, the SAVE Act advanced in the U.S. Senate this week on a procedural vote to begin debate. The motion passed largely along party lines, with Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski the only Republican voting against it.
CSSB 64(FIN) AM – Elections is the topic of This Week’s Focus; it recently passed out of House Finance and is expected to be heard soon by the full House. Read on…
Public testimony on HB 21, Voter Preregistration for Minors, had strong support for HB 21 from two Juneau residents. They noted that most states already allow preregistration at age 16 or 17. A 15-year-old student spoke passionately about the challenge of navigating voter registration just before they turn 18, particularly in rural areas where access to mail and internet can be inconsistent. Her argument was practical: give young people the time and space to get it done while they’re still connected to their families, schools, and communities. Both emphasized that earlier engagement can help build lifelong voting habits and strengthen participation over time.
Some questions were raised about the level of personal information required and whether minors fully understand the legal affirmation they are signing. Rep. Story described preregistration records as being maintained in a separate file until a voter turns 18. However, this was not clearly established on how that separation would happen, and no specific requirements appear in the bill. Public input is still encouraged. The next hearing is on March 25th and amendments are due by that date as well.
SB 23 – Civics Education, was heard on March 18th. Graduation requirements could be met in one of three ways: completing a semester-long civics course, passing a civics test, or completing a civics-related project. The bill also directs the State Board of Education to provide a list of curriculum resources for districts and creates a “civics seal” to recognize student achievement. Structured, nonpartisan civics education can improve student understanding, increase participation, and even reduce political polarization. National data noted that most states now require some form of civics education. Another hearing is expected but not yet scheduled.
A new version of HB 12 Free Breakfast & Lunch in Public Schools was introduced on March 13. HB12 would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for students who qualify for reduced-price school meals, targeting about 3,000+ Alaska students. The bill creates a state fund to reimburse districts and allows voluntary contributions through the PFD application. Originally proposed as universal free meals, the bill was scaled back significantly. Testimony highlighted tight district budgets and links between hunger and absenteeism. The bill was held in committee for further consideration.
HB 374 Base Student Allocation, had a hearing on March 11th with public testimony and is scheduled for another hearing by the House Education Committee on March 23rd at 8:00 am. The testimony was overwhelming in support of this bill. To recap – this bill would raise the BSA by $630 from $6,660 to $7,290.
SB 278, Local Contributions by School Districts, just introduced this week by the Senate Education Committee, would limit annual increases in required local school funding contributions to 2 percent. While the bill is technical and early in the process, it could have broader implications for how education funding is shared between the state and local governments. With no sponsor statement or public testimony yet outlining intent, this is a bill to watch as it moves through committee and more information becomes available. There is a bill hearing this Friday, March 27, in the Senate Education Committee.
SB 64 adds prepaid postage, ballot tracking, and a process to fix (“cure”) rejected ballots—changes designed to reduce ballot rejection rates. It also creates a Rural Voting Liaison, allows Tribal ID for voting, and adds tools to keep voter registration lists up to date—aimed at improving both access and accuracy in Alaska’s elections. These long-overdue changes will increase voter confidence and make Alaska’s elections more accessible, more transparent, and more reliable for voters across the state.
SB 64 – Elections, advanced out of House Finance, where members worked through a series of amendments before moving the bill out of committee on a 9–2 vote. The bill now moves to House Rules, with the next stop the House floor. Because the bill was amended, if it passes the House it must return to the Senate where they can concur with the changes or send it to a conference committee to resolve differences.
Two technical and clarifying amendments were adopted without objection. One amendment addressed a conflict with the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) by restoring the use of certain documents—such as utility bills, bank statements, paychecks, and government documents—as acceptable identification for first-time voters who registered by mail, as required under federal law. A separate amendment corrected PFD data-sharing language to ensure that only eligible voter information—limited to U.S. citizens age 18 or those turning 18 within 90 days—is transmitted to the Division of Elections.
The committee also adopted Amendment 6, a complicated amendment restructuring the bill’s effective dates. Most provisions would take effect when it became law, while ballot tracking and curing requirements would be delayed until September 19—45 days before the general election. This means ballot tracking and curing would be available for the general election, but not for the primary or REAA elections.
The most notable change was the adoption of Amendment 2, restoring presidential write-in voting in Alaska on a narrow 6–5 vote. While broadly supported, debate focused on whether adding a new policy at this stage could disrupt a carefully negotiated bipartisan compromise.
Amendment 1 was the most contentious. It proposed to change the automatic voter registration thru the PFD process from opt-out to opt-in. Sen. Wielechowski called this amendment a ‘deal breaker.’ It failed on a 3-8 vote, with Reps. Stapp, Allard, and Tomaszewski voting for the change. Three amendments were withdrawn.
Rep. Jimmie raised concerns about how proposed changes could affect rural and Alaska Native voters, emphasizing the realities of voting in remote communities. She described challenges including limited mail service, long travel distances, and lack of local registration access, noting that some villages have no post office and that weather delays have prevented ballots from arriving on time. She highlighted that her district already experiences high ballot rejection rates and relies heavily on the PFD automatic registration system. She reminded legislators that policies that appear neutral on their face can disproportionately affect voters in rural Alaska, where geography and infrastructure already create significant barriers to participation.
Throughout the hearings, the Division of Elections repeatedly raised concerns about the challenges of implementing multiple changes during an active election year. Director Beecher emphasized the complexity of standing up new ballot tracking and curing systems—integrating them with existing processes and ensuring they function reliably statewide—while managing scheduled elections with limited staff. She noted that while the Division would “do their best” to comply with legislative requirements, an election year is not an ideal time to implement new systems.
Sen. Wielechowski pushed back, noting that ballot tracking had been implemented in 2020 and that vendors and additional staffing could support a timely rollout. The fiscal note allocates five new positions to manage the ballot curing process, estimated to involve between 500 and 1,000 ballots statewide.
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