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Hello!
Last week the Senate voted to pass the final version
of Senate Bill 64, designed to strengthen and better secure Alaska’s
elections.
Under the new requirements in SB 64, people who are
voting or registering to vote must provide a driver’s license,
passport, birth certificate, or federally recognized tribal
identification in order to confirm their identity. Hunting and
fishing licenses, utility bills, and bank statements are no longer
acceptable forms if identification.
In 2022 it was estimated that the number of registered
voters in Alaska was equal to 106% of the adult population. Now it
will be faster and easier to remove people who are no longer eligible
to vote in Alaska from the voter rolls. And Division of Elections
will be required to conduct regular reviews of the rolls to remove
voters who are deceased, convicted of certain felonies, or registered
to vote in another state.
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To increase the security for mail-in ballots, the
Division will create an online ballot-tracking system allowing voters
to confirm ballot delivery, track receipt, and see whether their
ballot was counted. If a ballot is rejected for missing a signature or
insufficient ID, the Division must promptly notify the voter by mail,
and if the contact information has been provided, by text, phone, and
email, and provide the voter with instructions on how to correct, or
“cure,” the error. Voters will have 10 days after an election to
return a cure form and have their ballot still be counted.
I’ve heard from Kenai Peninsula residents who are
frustrated at the length of time it takes to get election results.
The new requirements require receipt of all overseas/out-of-country
ballots within 10 days of the election, allowing elections to be
certified five days earlier, and allows absentee ballot counts to
start 12 days before the election. The Division of Elections will be
required to release detailed, daily updates during election result
tabulation, including precinct counts, absentee and early vote logs,
and questioned ballot information.
The new laws created by SB 64 also better ensure
secure elections by making it a crime to intentionally open or tamper
with sealed absentee ballot envelopes or to tamper with or hack into
election machinery, tabulators, or software.
I
am honored to be your effective advocate in Juneau. Please contact my
office when you have ideas or concerns by calling 907-283-7996 or by
email at sen.jesse.bjorkman@akleg.gov
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Principal
Shea Nash and History/English Teacher Donica Nash brought six River
City Academy students to visit the Capitol to better understand how
their State Government works and to see what can be done to keep
their highly effective school from closing. I enjoyed the opportunity
to meet the students and hear their thoughts and ideas! There are
some excellent leaders in this group.
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As
the Alaska Railroad Corporation begins its expansion of the Seward
freight dock, one hoped for addition is expanding the width to
accommodate ships with roll on/roll off freight. This would expand
the range of ships that can bring freight into Seward. I'll be
holding a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on this
topic with the Alaska Railroad, TOTE Maritime, and transportation
experts from the Pacific North West Economic Region on Tuesday, March
31.
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I
have introduced SB 208 to get more state land into farm production
through sales and a commonsense leasing program. Farming and economic
opportunity is being lost because the State’s agricultural leasing
program is broken. This bill aims to fix ag leasing in Alaska and
sell more land to folks who want to farm. It will be heard in the
Senate Resources Committee this week.
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Last
Thursday I came back to the district for the day to meet with many of
you. It was great to see lots of folks out at Charlotte’s for
breakfast. Later, I had a great in-depth meeting with the Kenaitze
Tribal Council. I learned a lot from the Council about the foster
care system and what can be done to improve outcomes for our kids.
Thursday's
town hall at the Kenai Legislative Information Office was very
productive. I heard your concerns regarding education, the gas line
project, charitable gaming, highway construction plans, and much
more! Also, I stopped in to see Chuck at Airport Equipment Rentals
where I learned about how “Right to Repair” would impact small
businesses on the Kenai.
I plan to be in Bear Creek, Cooper Landing, Soldotna,
and Nikiski for more events on the first weekend in May. I'll post
the details on my Facebook page and in this newsletter as they become
available.
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Travel
disruptions can have serious consequences. I have introduced and am
moving Senate Bill 244 to ensure Alaskans are protected from scam
insurance companies who don’t pay up when travel plans fail, and
insurance claims are made. The bill has a hearing in the Senate
Transportation Committee this week.
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