The bill amends Alaska's election laws, particularly regarding regional educational attendance area elections and the terms for regional school board members. It establishes that members will serve staggered four-year terms instead of the previous three-year terms and allows for biennial elections in odd-numbered years. Local communities will determine the number of board members, with changes possible through ballot questions during regular elections. Additionally, the bill introduces new voter registration processes, including electronic registration and the inclusion of registration forms in permanent fund dividend applications, while also updating rules for voter residence and maintaining the voter registration list.

Moreover, the bill modifies several election procedures, including the counting of absentee ballots and the administration of elections. It removes the requirement for absentee ballots received before a recount to be counted by the director and allows for mail-in elections in smaller communities. The lieutenant governor is tasked with preparing and publishing an election pamphlet on a regional basis prior to state elections. The bill also clarifies the confidentiality of information related to permanent fund dividend applications, specifying that only the applicant's name is not confidential and detailing circumstances for releasing confidential information. Several sections of existing law are repealed, and a transition provision ensures that the terms of regional school board members remain unaffected by the bill's enactment.

Statutes affected:
SB0070A, AM SB 70, introduced 01/24/2025: 14.08.041, 14.08.061, 14.08.071, 29.20.300, 29.26.060, 14.08.115, 15.05.020, 15.05.010, 15.07.050, 43.23.015, 15.07.060, 15.07.055, 15.07.070, 15.07.130, 15.07.120, 43.23.005, U.S.C, 15.15.060, 15.15.380, 15.20.030, 15.20.064, 15.20.072, 15.20.081, 15.20.480, 15.20.170, 15.20.201, 15.20.220, 15.15.360, 15.20.800, 15.58.010, 15.58.020, 43.23.110, 43.23.101