Voter Registration Gets A Bump From PFD Applications

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… 

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:

http://www.radiokenai.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Dorene-on-voter-registration-gets-a-bump-from-pfd-applications.mp3

Round One Education Budget Win, Round Two Presumed To Be Tough

Courtesy of Ron Niebrugge

They took a long time in getting to Governor Bill Walker’s desk, but both the Alaska State Capital and Operating Budgets got passing grades for education funding.

Senator Tom Begich (D-DJ): “The Capital Budget continues to support deferred maintenance of schools, which has been neglected for years. That is a superb outcome.  In terms of the Operating Budget, it ensures that there is full funding for education, at least at the prior year levels, and increases the opportunity for Pre-K in rural areas. Both of these are tremendously positive impacts for rural schools.” 

For schools that had braced for deep cuts – the flat funding was a win.  Fears were that education cuts would be significant, the Senate originally proposed a near 6% decrease in funding. The Final Compromise was by no means unanimous.

The Alaska State House Republicans from the area between Eagle River and North Pole voted against the final budget.  The sole State Senator who voted against the proposition represents the same area.

Senator Tom Begich

Although funding for education is one of the few things that are mandated by the Alaska State constitution, the clause simply states that, “The legislature shall by general law establish and maintain a system of public schools open to all children of the State, and may provide for other public educational institutions.”

Unlike the Capital Budget, there is no formula that demands what percentage of State funds must be expended to that end. Lawmakers are suggesting that the fight for keeping even flat funding for schools is going to be a scuffle next session.

Senator Tom Begich (D-DJ): “That’s likely the primary point of pressure will be on education funding, ..particularly the Senate will focus on cutting education funding.  If parents care they should become engaged and telling their Senators to support full funding of education.”

As aired on KSRM News:

http://www.radiokenai.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Dorene-on-Round-One-Education.mp3