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Title 15. Elections


Published: 2015

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Title 15. ELECTIONS
Chapter 15.05. QUALIFICATION OF VOTERS

Sec. 15.05.010. Voter qualification.

A person may vote at any election who

 (1) is a citizen of the United States;

 (2) is 18 years of age or older;

 (3) has been a resident of the state and of the house district in which the person seeks to vote for at least 30 days just before the election; and

 (4) has registered before the election as required under AS 15.07 and is not registered to vote in another jurisdiction.

Sec. 15.05.011. Qualifications of overseas voters.

 (a) A person residing outside the United States may register and vote absentee by qualifying under this section.

 (b) Before registering a person under this section, the director shall determine that the person

 (1) was domiciled in the state immediately before leaving the United States;

 (2) meets the qualifications established in AS 15.05.010 (1) and (2);

 (3) has not established a domicile in another state, territory, or possession of the United States since leaving this state;

 (4) is not registered to vote and has not voted in another state, territory, or possession of the United States since leaving this state;

 (5) has a valid passport, card of identity and registration, or other identification issued under the authority of the United States Secretary of State, and identification complying with the requirements of this title.

 (c) Lack of a place of abode in the state or lack of intent to return to the state does not disqualify a person who qualifies under (b) of this section.

 (d) A person registered under this section may vote in a federal election in this state.

 (e) Notwithstanding (b)(1) of this section, a person residing outside the United States may register and vote absentee if

 (1) the parent or legal guardian of the person was domiciled in the state immediately before leaving the United States; and

 (2) the director determines that the person meets the requirements of (b)(2) - (5) of this section.

Sec. 15.05.012. Voter qualification for presidential election.

A person who is otherwise qualified under AS 15.05.010 but who has not been a resident of the house district in which the person seeks to vote for at least 30 days preceding the date of a presidential election is entitled to register and vote for presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Sec. 15.05.014. Procedures in presidential elections.

In accordance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (P.L. 89-110; 79 Stat. 437; 42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.), as amended, the following procedures apply to elections for the office of President and Vice-President of the United States:

 (1) registration and absentee voting procedures, except as otherwise provided in this section, shall be identical to the procedures established in this title;

 (2) registration of otherwise qualified persons shall be permitted without regard to a durational residency requirement;

 (3) if any citizen who is otherwise qualified to vote in the state for president and vice-president has begun residence in another state after the 30th day preceding the election and, for that reason, does not satisfy the registration requirements of that state, that person shall be allowed to vote for president and vice-president either in person in the precinct in which the person resided immediately before removal, or by absentee ballot as provided in AS 15.20.

Sec. 15.05.016. Fee prohibited. [Repealed, Sec. 43 ch 85 SLA 1988].

 Repealed or Renumbered

Sec. 15.05.020. Rules for determining residence of voter.

For the purpose of determining residence for voting, the place of residence is governed by the following rules:

 (1) A person may not be considered to have gained a residence solely by reason of presence nor may a person lose it solely by reason of absence while in the civil or military service of this state or of the United States or of absence because of marriage to a person engaged in the civil or military service of this state or the United States, while a student at an institution of learning, while in an institution or asylum at public expense, while confined in public prison, while engaged in the navigation of waters of this state or the United States or of the high seas, while residing upon an Indian or military reservation, or while residing in the Alaska Pioneers' Home or the Alaska Veterans' Home.

 (2) The residence of a person is that place in which the person's habitation is fixed, and to which, whenever absent, the person has the intention to return. If a person resides in one place, but does business in another, the former is the person's place of residence. Temporary work sites do not constitute a dwelling place.

 (3) A change of residence is made only by the act of removal joined with the intent to remain in another place. There can only be one residence.

 (4) A person does not lose residence if the person leaves home and goes to another country, state, or place in this state for temporary purposes only and with the intent of returning.

 (5) A person does not gain residence in any place to which the person comes without the present intention to establish a permanent dwelling at that place.

 (6) A person loses residence in this state if the person votes in another state's election, either in person or by absentee ballot, and will not be eligible to vote in this state until again qualifying under AS 15.05.010 .

 (7) The term of residence is computed by including the day on which the person's residence begins and excluding the day of election.

 (8) The address of a voter as it appears on the official voter registration record is presumptive evidence of the person's voting residence. This presumption is negated only if the voter notifies the director in writing of a change of voting residence.

Sec. 15.05.030. Loss and restoration of voting rights.

 (a) A person convicted of a crime that constitutes a felony involving moral turpitude under state or federal law may not vote in a state, federal, or municipal election from the date of the conviction through the date of the unconditional discharge of the person. Upon the unconditional discharge, the person may register under AS 15.07.

 (b) The commissioner of corrections shall establish procedures by which a person unconditionally discharged is advised of the voter registration requirements and procedures.

Sec. 15.05.040. Voter disqualification for unsound mind. [Repealed, Sec. 49 ch 86 SLA 1996].

 Repealed or Renumbered

Chapter 15.07. REGISTRATION OF VOTERS

Sec. 15.07.010. Who may vote.

The precinct election officials at any election shall allow a person to vote whose name is on the official registration list for that precinct and who is qualified under AS 15.05. A person whose name is not on the official registration list shall be allowed to vote a questioned ballot.

Sec. 15.07.020. Registration as a prerequisite. [Repealed, Sec. 231 ch 100 SLA 1980].

 Repealed or Renumbered

Sec. 15.07.030. Who may register.

 (a) A person who has the qualifications of a voter as set out in AS 15.05.010 (1) - (3) or who will have the qualifications at the succeeding primary or general election is entitled to be registered as a voter in the precinct in which the person resides.

 (b) A person qualified under AS 15.05.011 to vote by absentee ballot in a federal election is entitled to be registered as a voter in the house district in which the person resided immediately before departure from the United States.

Sec. 15.07.040. Time for registration.

A person who is qualified under AS 15.05.010 (1) - (3) is entitled to register at any time throughout the year except that a person under 18 years of age may register at any time within 90 days immediately preceding the person's 18th birthday.

Sec. 15.07.050. Manner of registration; party affiliation.

 (a) Registration may be made

 (1) in person before a registration official or through a voter registration agency;

 (2) by another individual on behalf of the voter if the voter has executed a written general power of attorney or a written special power of attorney authorizing that other individual to register the voter;

 (3) by mail; or

 (4) by facsimile transmission, scanning, or another method of electronic transmission that the director approves.

 (b) Except as provided in (c) of this section, only the voter or the individual authorized by the voter in a written power of attorney under (a) of this section may mark the voter's choice of party affiliation on the voter registration application form.

 (c) A person may supply a voter registration application form with a political party or group affiliation indicated to a voter only if the voter is already registered as affiliated with the political party or group indicated.

Sec. 15.07.055. Voter registration agencies.

 (a) The following agencies are designated voter registration agencies:

 (1) the administrative component of the Department of Administration that administers motor vehicle and driver's license laws;

 (2) divisions of the Department of Health and Social Services that provide public assistance through the food stamp program, Medicaid program, Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and Alaska temporary assistance program;

 (3) the division of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development that is responsible for municipal and regional assistance programs; and

 (4) all recruitment offices of the armed forces of the United States located in Alaska.

 (b) The director shall designate state-funded agencies that primarily provide services to persons with disabilities as voter registration agencies.

 (c) The director may designate other state or local agencies as voter registration agencies. The director may designate a federal or nongovernmental office as a voter registration agency with the agreement of that office.

 (d) A voter registration agency shall distribute voter registration materials, assist applicants in completing voter registration forms, and accept and transmit completed voter registration forms to the director in accordance with regulations adopted by the director to comply with 42 U.S.C. 1973gg (National Voter Registration Act of 1993) and other requirements of federal law.

 (e) The director shall enter into an agreement with the Department of Administration and the Department of Revenue to match identifying information provided by a voter who initially registers by mail or by facsimile or other electronic transmission approved by the director under AS 15.07.050 with existing identification records

 (1) maintained by the administrative component of the Department of Administration that administers motor vehicle and driver's license laws and by the administrative component of the Department of Revenue that administers the permanent fund dividend laws; and

 (2) bearing the same identifying number, name, and date of birth provided on the registration.

Sec. 15.07.060. Required registration information.

 (a) Each applicant who requests registration or reregistration shall supply the following information:

 (1) the applicant's name and sex;

 (2) if issued, the applicant's State of Alaska driver's license number or State of Alaska identification card number, or the last four digits of the applicant's social security number;

 (3) the applicant's date of birth;

 (4) the applicant's Alaska residence address;

 (5) a statement of whether the applicant has previously been registered to vote in another jurisdiction, and, if so, the jurisdiction and the address of the previous registration;

 (6) a declaration that the applicant will be 18 years of age or older within 90 days after the date of registration;

 (7) a declaration that the applicant is a citizen of the United States;

 (8) the date of application;

 (9) the applicant's signature or mark;

 (10) any former name under which the applicant was registered to vote in the state;

 (11) an attestation that the information provided by the applicant in (1) - (10) of this subsection is true; and

 (12) a certification that the applicant understands that a false statement on the application may make the applicant subject to prosecution for a misdemeanor under this title or AS 11.

 (b) If the applicant has been previously registered to vote in another jurisdiction, the director shall notify the chief elections officer in that jurisdiction that the applicant has registered to vote in Alaska and request that that jurisdiction cancel the applicant's voter registration there.

 (c) Each applicant who requests registration in person before a registration official shall exhibit one form of identification to the official, including a driver's license, state identification card, current and valid photo identification, birth certificate, passport, or hunting or fishing license. A registration official who knows the identity of the applicant may waive the identification requirement.

 (d) If the applicant requests reregistration, the applicant shall supply under oath any former name under which the applicant was registered to vote in the state.

 (e) For an applicant requesting initial registration by mail or by facsimile or other electronic transmission approved by the director under AS 15.07.050 , the director shall verify the information provided in compliance with (a)(2) and (3) of this section through state agency records described in AS 15.07.055 (e). If the applicant cannot comply with the requirement of (a)(2) of this section because the applicant has not been issued any of the listed numbers, the applicant may instead submit a copy of one of the following forms of identification: a driver's license, state identification card, current and valid photo identification, birth certificate, passport, or hunting or fishing license.

 (f) If an applicant who requests registration cannot comply with the requirement of (a)(2) of this section because the applicant has not been issued any of the listed numbers, the division shall assign the applicant a unique identifying number.

Sec. 15.07.064. Information required for voter registration.

 (a) A voter requesting registration or reregistration shall provide the director with sufficient information to determine

 (1) the location of the residence of the voter within the district;

 (2) the precinct in which the voter is qualified to vote;

 (3) the other local or regional election jurisdictions in which the voter is eligible to vote.

 (b) In determining the sufficiency of the registration information provided by the voter in an application to register, the director may consider

 (1) whether the voter is applying in person, by mail from a location within the state, or by mail from a location outside the state;

 (2) the location, size, or density of the population within the municipality, established village, or geographic area in which the voter claims residence;

 (3) whether the municipality, established village, or geographic area has been divided into precincts or local or regional election subdivisions;

 (4) whether specific locations within the municipality, established village, or geographic area have been identified by street name, subdivisions, or other commonly known official descriptions; or

 (5) other circumstances considered significant by the director.

 (c) A voter requesting registration in a municipality or established village that has been divided into more than one precinct or that includes more than one section of a local or regional election subdivision shall provide the director with information that describes the location of the residence of the voter. In this subsection, the use of a post office box, a postal service center box, a rural route number, general delivery, or other description identified only as a mailing address does not establish the residence of the voter. In addition to the name of the municipality or established village, the voter shall provide the director with information that describes a physical location that may be

 (1) a street name, including a number on the street if one exists;

 (2) a highway name and mile post number;

 (3) a mobile home court and space number;

 (4) a boat harbor and slip number;

 (5) the name of a subdivision;

 (6) the name of a building, institution, military or other reservation for which the location is fixed; or

 (7) another descriptive phrase from which the specific physical location of the residence of the voter within the municipality or established village can be determined.

 (d) The director is not required to request a voter who claims residence within a municipality or established village to provide the information required under (c) of this section if

 (1) the municipality or established village is entirely within a single precinct; and

 (2) a local or regional election subdivision is not divided into sections within the boundaries of the municipality or the area of the established village.

 (e) The director shall review the information contained within an application by a voter for registration. The director may not reject an application of a voter who qualifies under (d) of this section because the voter provided information in excess of that required to establish qualifications, including excess information qualifying as a mailing address. The director may consider an application for registration within a municipality or established village described in (d) of this section to comply with law based on other information contained in the application, including evidence that

 (1) the application was made in person before a voting registrar, election official, or absentee voting official appointed to serve in the municipality or established village;

 (2) the application of a voter registering by mail was postmarked by the postal official in the municipality or established village; and

 (3) other information contained in the application does not negate the presumption of residency provided under (a) of this section.

 (f) A voter who resides in a building, institution, military or other reservation may establish residency for voting purposes by naming that place instead of naming a municipality or established village. In this subsection the use of a post office box, a postal service center box, a rural route number, general delivery, or other description qualifying as a mailing address does not establish the residence of the voter. The director is not required to request a voter who claims residence by naming the building, institution, military or other reservation to provide the information required under (c) of this section if

 (1) the physical location of the place named in the application is fixed; and

 (2) the place named in the application is contained within the boundaries of a single precinct.

 (g) Notwithstanding (a) - (f) of this section, the director may substitute a mailing address provided by the voter for the permanent fund dividend program under AS 43.23 as the mailing address for the voter on the registration records of the director under procedures specified in regulations of the director if necessary to maintain accuracy of voting registration records.

 (h) In this section, "established village" means an unincorporated community that is in

 (1) the unorganized borough and that has 25 or more permanent residents; or

 (2) an organized borough, has 25 or more permanent residents, and

 (A) is on a road system and is located more than 50 miles outside the boundary limits of a unified municipality, or

 (B) is not on a road system and is located more than 15 miles outside the boundary limits of a unified municipality.

Sec. 15.07.065. Exchange of voter registration information. [Repealed, Sec. 231 ch 100 SLA 1980].

 Repealed or Renumbered