The bill amends various sections of Alaska's election laws to enhance the appointment processes for election supervisors and watchers, as well as to refine candidate contribution rules and ballot counting procedures. It specifies that election supervisors will appoint nominees from the political party of the sitting governor and the party that received the second highest number of votes in the previous gubernatorial election, rather than from the largest registered voter groups. If these parties do not present nominees by a specified deadline, the election supervisor may appoint any qualified individual registered to vote. Additionally, the bill allows candidates not representing a political party to appoint watchers and establishes clearer guidelines for their appointment and duties.

Further amendments include updates to the definitions of contributions, ballot marking requirements, and absentee voting procedures. The bill mandates that candidates file campaign disclosure reports and clarifies vote counting, including provisions for ranked-choice voting. It also updates absentee ballot deadlines to ensure that ballots from overseas voters are received by specific deadlines to be valid. Other changes address the nomination and selection processes for candidates in special elections, including the introduction of party petitions and the requirement for write-in candidates to file a joint letter of intent with a lieutenant governor candidate from the same party. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the electoral process and improve transparency and accessibility for voters in Alaska.

Statutes affected:
HB0019A, AM HB 19, introduced 01/10/2025: 15.10.120, 15.10.170, 15.40.140, 15.40.143, 15.13.020, 15.13.074, 15.13.100, 15.13.110, 15.25.141, 15.25.201, 15.13.135, 15.25.140, 15.25.200, 15.13.400, 15.45.020, 15.15.030, 15.15.360, 15.15.370, 15.15.350, 15.15.450, 15.20.081, 15.05.011, 15.20.480, 15.20.190, 15.15.380, 15.20.203, 15.20.207, 15.20.211, 15.25.010, 15.25.015, 15.25.100, 15.25.030, 15.40.230, 15.40.310, 15.25.111, 15.25.131, 15.25.060, 15.25.105, 15.25.181, 15.25.040, 15.25.161, 15.25.171, 24.60.200, 15.25.186, 15.25.042, 15.25.043, 15.25.191, 15.30.010, 15.40.144, 15.40.160, 15.40.165, 15.40.170, 15.40.190, 15.25.050, 15.40.220, 15.40.240, 15.40.250, 15.40.280, 15.40.330, 15.40.380, 15.40.390, 15.40.400, 15.40.440, 15.40.470, 15.45.190, 15.45.420, 15.58.010, 15.58.020, 15.58.030, 15.80.010, 39.50.020