The bill amends various sections of Alaska's election laws to enhance voter registration processes, improve election integrity, and address campaign contributions. Key changes include the acceptance of identification cards issued by federally recognized tribes as valid forms of ID for voter registration and the requirement for the director of elections to verify information from permanent fund dividend applications. The bill also mandates regular audits of the master voter register to maintain accurate voter rolls, including identifying ineligible voters and confirming residency. Additionally, it introduces new reporting requirements regarding the sharing of permanent fund dividend applicant records and establishes protocols for handling data breaches related to confidential voter information.

Moreover, the bill introduces ranked-choice voting for general election ballots, allowing voters to rank candidates by preference, and clarifies that a candidate's party affiliation does not imply endorsement by that party. It specifies that absentee ballots must be received by the election supervisor by the close of business on the 10th day following an election and updates language for clarity and security in the election process. The legislation also establishes a signature verification process for absentee ballots, an online ballot-tracking system, and requires the commissioner of the Permanent Fund Dividend program to provide voter registration information to the director of elections. Overall, these amendments aim to modernize the electoral process, improve voter access, and strengthen election security in Alaska.

Statutes affected:
SB0289A, AM SB 289, introduced 05/07/2026: 15.07.060, 15.07.050, 15.07.055, 15.07.070, 43.23.015, 43.23.101, 15.07.195, 15.07.130, 15.07.120, U.S.C, 15.05.011, 15.10.105, 15.13.400, 15.15.030, 15.30.026, 15.15.060, 15.15.225, 15.15.360, 15.15.370, 15.20.201, 15.20.207, 15.20.203, 15.15.380, 15.20.030, 15.20.081, 15.20.480, 15.40.140, 15.20.170, 15.20.061, 15.20.220, 15.20.222, 15.25.105, 15.56.030, 15.20.072, 15.80.010, 15.56.060, 15.56.070