Alaska House Passes Bipartisan Election Bill

0:00It's March 25th. Welcome to Anchorage News Today, powered by AI. Alaska's House of Representatives passed the bipartisan elections bill on Monday to modernize voting and clean up voter rolls. Senate Bill 64 cleared by a 23-to-16 vote with some Republicans joining Democrats in support. Key changes include prepaid postage for absentee ballots, a new ballot tracking system, and steps for quicker election results. The bill targets outdated voter rolls, where Alaska has more registered voters than eligible citizens. Election officials would mail notices to verify residency for people with ties to other states, like driver's licenses or property taxes there. Voters give 45 days to respond to risk inactive status for 28 months. Lawmakers from both parties praised the effort after years of work, though some Republicans worried about military voters overseas. Supporters know inactive voters stay on the master list for eight years under federal rules, and tribal IDs can now prove eligibility.

1:01Other updates allow ballot curing within 10 days via phone, email, or mail, plus a rural liaison to help remote areas with polls and workers. Ballots must arrive within 10 days of election day, and early processing starts 12 days ahead. The bill heads back to the Senate for approval this week, with immediate voter roll reviews if signed. Amid national debates on deadlines and ID rules, these fixes aim to boost trust and access in Alaska's tough election landscape.