The bill amends various sections of Alaska's election laws to enhance the appointment process for election supervisors and watchers, as well as to clarify candidate contributions and ballot counting procedures. It mandates that election supervisors appoint nominees from the political party of the sitting governor and the party that received the second highest votes in the last gubernatorial election. If these parties do not provide nominees by a specified deadline, the supervisor can appoint any qualified voter. Additionally, candidates not affiliated with a political party are allowed to appoint watchers at polling places, with a limit of one watcher per organization at a time. The bill also broadens the definition of contributions and requires candidates to file campaign disclosure reports, while modifying ballot design to include party designations and ensuring that votes are counted even if fewer names are marked than positions available.

Further amendments focus on absentee and questioned ballot counting boards, primary election procedures, and the nomination process for candidates. Each district absentee ballot counting board must include members from the political parties of the sitting governor and the runner-up in the last gubernatorial election. The bill allows for combined primary ballots if requested by multiple parties and clarifies voter participation rules based on party bylaws. It also introduces provisions for filling vacancies on primary ballots and specifies the requirements for candidates, including political party affiliation and the process for no-party candidates to be nominated by petition. The bill aims to streamline election processes, enhance transparency, and ensure that candidates meet specific eligibility criteria while clarifying the roles of political parties and candidates in Alaska's electoral system.

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