The deadline to register as a voter in time for municipal elections is right around the corner, Sunday, September 3rd. This year has a few twists for those wanting to change their address or register for the first time.
Anyone can use the Online Voter Registration System, so long as they have a valid Alaska driver’s license or state ID card and the information they enter when registering matches their Division of Motor Vehicles record. Those who can’t jump that hurdle must use a paper registration, available at the local city hall or Division of Elections.
Some tardy Alaskans are by default early adopters of a new way of registering courtesy of Ballot Measure One. Proponents of the measure felt it would take Alaska from having one of the worst voter registration rates in the nation to one of the most accurate voter registrations in US history. The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation stepped out in front of the measure, and President Bill Popp explains why…
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| Bill Popp |
AEDC President Bill Popp: “It would offer more voter engagement, it would make sure the voter rolls are more accurate because pretty much anybody who is qualified who is an Alaska resident applies for the Permanent Fund Dividend and it just seemed like a way to clean up some of the discrepancies in the previous system.”
Alaskans who waited until the last month to file for their Permanent Fund Dividend are now automatically registered to vote, thanks to the approval of Ballot Measure 1 in the last general election.
Since the law became enacted on March 1st, the Division of Elections is required to send a notice to voters whose address on their PFD application is different than their voter records, telling them that the PFD address will update their voter address. A mailer will also be sent notify Alaskans that the information on their PFD application will be used to register them to vote unless they ‘opt-out’ within 30 days.
The Division of Elections it is in the process of developing an ‘Alaska PFD Automatic Voter Registration Manual’, to describe the new process for voter registration and voter updates through the PFD Division and the Division of Elections. This process will increase voter access consistent with all state and federal laws, including the National Voter Registration Act.
Story as aired on KSRM News:
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