Alaska

Election reforms are on the agenda for Alaska lawmakers this year

Published

10 months ago

January 23, 2025

Election reforms are on the agenda for Alaska lawmakers this year

JUNEAU, Alaska (KTUU) – The Alaska Legislature will take up election reform proposals this session, with Gov. Mike Dunleavy introducing a bill through the House, and the Senate majority caucus planning to introduce its own reforms later this week, according to Corinne Smith with the Alaska Beacon.

The legislation is in response to a range of issues and complaints around Alaska’s elections last year, including concerns around delays in ballot counting and transparency, election security, and problems with staffing, absentee ballots, and long lines at some polling places.

Dunleavy introduced a bill through the House on Wednesday, House Bill 63, proposing new rules for, among others, voter registration, voting by mail, voting and counting timelines.

“This bill is a necessary step to ensure the integrity and transparency of our election process while addressing Alaskans’ concerns about reliability,” Dunleavy said in a prepared statement on Wednesday. “By modernizing our election code, we can provide a more efficient and trustworthy system for voters and election officials alike.”

The bill also would put new limits on voting time.

All ballots would have to be received by the state Division of Elections by Election Day, under the new legislation, when currently they just have to be postmarked and mailed by that day. It would shorten early voting time, which opens 15 days prior to and ends on Election Day. Under the bill, it would close five days before Election Day.

The bill would eliminate the automatic voter registration process when applying for the Permanent Fund Dividend. That provision was enacted in 2016, when Alaskans passed a ballot measure to allow voter registration during the application process.

For vote by mail, it would provide postage for all absentee ballots being mailed in. It would allow ballot counting by the Division of Elections to begin sooner, up to 10 days before the election. It would also create an option for communities with less than 750 people to opt for all by-mail voting for their elections.

The bill was introduced in the House on Wednesday, and referred to the state affairs and finance committees.

On the Senate side, the new majority, made up of a coalition of Democratic and Republican senators, is set to put forth an election reform bill focused on a range of issues, including streamlining the voting process and expanding access for voters.

The bill is scheduled to be introduced in the Senate on Friday, but Anchorage Democratic Sen. Bill Wielechowski discussed the upcoming bill on Wednesday.

“First off, it addresses the fact that you have 106% more registered voters in the state of Alaska than you do citizens,” Wielechowski said. “There’s unusual reasons for that, but we’re really making an effort to try to clean up the voter rolls, because that’s been a big concern for many people.”

For mail-in ballots, the bill would also pay for postage for all ballots, and eliminate the witness signature requirement for absentee ballots, which Wielechowski said isn’t verified and has disqualified ballots unnecessarily.

“So I think a lot of Alaskans are surprised and kind of shocked that there’s this bureaucratic kind of roadblock,” he said. “And that ends up disqualifying hundreds, if not thousands of Alaskans for something that they don’t even check.”

The bill would establish a ballot tracking barcodes for absentee ballots, and a system for review. If there’s a mistake on a ballot, the bill would create an easier process for corrections, he said. “We’re trying to allow for ballot curing, which is, if you make a mistake on a ballot, the Division of Elections can notify you, and you can fix it.”

“We heard stories this past year about somebody who made a mistake on their ballot. It was identified on their absentee ballot. It was identified before the election, and they couldn’t fix it. Everybody knew there was a mistake and unfortunately, his ballot was just discounted. Yeah, so we’re trying to fix things like that.”

To address long lines at polling places, as seen in hours-long lines to vote in Anchorage last year, the bill would require ballot drop boxes be available at each regional office, if feasible, and one per every 20,000 residents.

Wielechowski said the Senate majority would not support some provisions in Dunleavy’s bill, such as eliminating the voter registration process in the PFD application. But he said they would work with the governor on election reform initiatives, as the bills move through the legislative process.

“There were some things that were similar to what we have,” he said. “And our bill is a little bit more expansive, I’d say. But look forward to working with the governor, with the (Senate) minority, and the House, and trying to come up with a solution.”

Election reform is one of the top four priorities laid out by the Senate majority caucus this year, along with education funding, energy and pension reform.

Reporter James Brooks contributed to this article.

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Related Topics:Alaska Legislature Division of Elections dunleavy Election Featured Gov. Mike Dunleavy

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Alaska

Pilot Surprises Vietnam War Veteran on Alaska Airlines Flight

Published

16 hours ago

November 11, 2025

Press Room

Pilot Surprises Vietnam War Veteran on Alaska Airlines Flight

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Alaska

Veterans Day events around Alaska

Published

1 day ago

November 10, 2025

Press Room

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Veterans Day is a national holiday that encourages communities to stop and thank those who served in the armed forces.

About 8% of Alaskans are veterans, a higher concentration than in any other state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

While some of the bigger Veterans Day events at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Fairbanks were canceled this year, there are still plenty of events to attend to throughout the state.

Southcentral Alaska

The Municipality of Anchorage will be hosting a Veterans Day ceremony at Merrill Field at the 11th Air Force Memorial at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning. Invited guests include Mayor Suzanne LaFrance, Alaska Territorial Guard, Canadian Arctic Members and local military and community leaders.

In Wasilla, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 43-3 will host at the Veterans Wall of Honor, 801 N Fishhook Road, at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Over in Palmer, the Matanuska-Susitna College will be doing a tribute to veterans at the Glen Massay Theater at 2 p.m. There will be a special presentation by Battle Dawgs, a POW/MIA Ceremony, and the guest of honor will be retired Sgt. Tom Spangler. Refreshments will be served after the ceremony.

Interior Alaska

Arctic Light Elementary School on Fort Wainwright will host its Veterans Day Assembly from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the school gym. Guests are welcome to enter through the gym doors starting at 8:15 a.m.

In Fairbanks, the Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs will host a BBQ luncheon and a Marine Corps Birthday Cake Cutting Ceremony. The open house luncheon will start at noon at 751 Old Richardson Highway.

There will also be a Veterans Day Town Hall at the 8 Star Events Center with members of the Interior Delegation to listen to the concerns veterans may have and to learn more about the veteran community. The town hall will begin at 5 p.m.

Interior Alaska American Legion Post 99 will continue its partnership with the Eielson Air Force Base Honor Guard and the North Pole High School JRTOC to host a flag retirement ceremony on Veterans Day. The ceremony will take place at the Alaska Rangers Camp at 5 p.m.

Kenai Peninsula

Down south in Homer, the annual Veterans Day Parade will begin at 11:11 a.m. Tuesday at the Homer Emblem Club Veterans’ Memorial at the corner of Lake Street and Pioneer. The parade will conclude with a ceremony at the Islands and Oceans Visitor Center. Veterans are then invited to enjoy a complimentary meal from the Homer Elks Lodge #2127.

Seward Public Schools will be hosting a program at Seward High School from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch will be served, and there will also be performances from the Band and Choir.

Southeast

In Juneau, the Southeast Alaska Native Veterans will be hosting a Veterans Day Ceremony and Luncheon at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall at 11 a.m. The ceremony will also include a keynote address from retired Army Maj. Gen. Richard Mustion.

In Ketchikan, American Legion Post 3 will be hosting a Veterans Day Ceremony at 631 Park Avenue around 9:30 a.m. The ceremonies will conclude around noon with the presentation of 6 Quilts of Valor.

Western Alaska

In Nome, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9569 will be organizing a Veterans Day Parade. The parade will start at 11 a.m. and will begin at the Post Office, and will end at St. Joe’s Park. The community is encouraged to come out.

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Alaska

Winter driving: Alaska troopers on how to stay safe on the road

Published

2 days ago

November 9, 2025

Press Room

Winter driving: Alaska troopers on how to stay safe on the road

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU/KTVF) – As winter weather comes to Alaska, road conditions have become hazardous in some locations, and the Alaska State Troopers (AST) have advice on staying safe while driving in icy or snowy conditions, as well as traveling in cold weather.

According to AST Sgt. Brian Haley, troopers spend a good deal of time dealing with vehicle collisions during the winter, mostly fender benders at intersections. But, he said, “It could be the single vehicle that goes into the ditch on the Richardson Highway. It could be the multi-car collision that takes place on the Mitchell Expressway at University.”

Winter hazards affect “the way that people are driving and it affects the way that our vehicles are going to react on the road. So, the first thing is, is we all need to be mindful that our vehicles are going to act a little bit differently out there,” he said.

The trooper advises drivers to increase their stopping distance as they approach stop signs, traffic signals and other vehicles.

“Really give yourself that extra space, and slow down way before you even think that you’re going to need it,” Haley said, emphasizing that vehicles take longer to stop in winter conditions.

When negotiating a curve, either on highways or in neighborhoods, he said drivers will also want to slow down and “anticipate ‘What am I going to do if and when my car starts to slide?’” so as to be safe around other vehicles and pedestrians.

Increased darkness represents another hazard during the winter months, and Haley recommends that drivers keep their headlights on at all times, and that pedestrians wear visible colors when walking outside.

“Make sure that when you’re taking your kids to school in the morning that you’re carrying flashlights and have reflective items on you to make yourself more visible to that general motoring public,” he explained, adding that wildlife also present a danger in the dark.

“As we get more and more snowpack, those animals, specifically moose, they’re going to start meandering onto the roads because it’s easier for them to walk. And that big dark creature with a big black background at night, those aren’t a good combination,” he said.

Haley urged those driving, regardless of the distance they are traveling, to pack winter gear and ways to keep warm in case their car breaks down.

“That inside of that cab is going to get extremely cold, extremely fast. If you’re just there and your T-shirt and your gym shorts, it’s going to be really bad for you, and it could actually be life-threatening,” he added.

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