BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE AN INITIATIVE TO: PROHIBIT THE USE OF DARK MONEY BY INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE GROUPS WORKING TO INFLUENCE CANDIDATE ELECTIONS IN ALASKA AND REQUIRE ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES BY THESE ESTABLISH A NONPARTISAN AND OPEN TOP FOUR PRIMARY ELECTION CHANGE APPOINTMENT PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN ELECTION BOARDS AND WATCHERS AND THE ALASKA PUBLIC OFFICES ESTABLISH A RANKED-CHOICE GENERAL ELECTION SUPPORT AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW CITIZENS TO REGULATE MONEY IN REPEAL SPECIAL RUNOFF REQUIRE CERTAIN NOTICES IN ELECTION PAMPHLETS AND POLLING AND AMEND THE DEFINITION OF POLITICAL PARTY. A BILL BY INITIATIVE For an Act Entitled "An Act prohibiting the use of dark money by independent expenditure groups working to influence candidate elections in Alaska and requiring additional disclosures by these groups; establishing a nonpartisan and open top four primary election system for election to state executive and state and national legislative offices; changing appointment procedures relating to precinct watchers and members of precinct election boards, election district absentee and questioned ballot counting boards, and the Alaska Public Offices Commission; establishing a ranked-choice general election system; supporting an amendment to the United States Constitution to allow citizens to regulate money in Alaska elections; repealing the special runoff election for the office of United States Senator and United States Representative; requiring certain written notices to appear in election pamphlets and polling places; and amending the definition of ?political party . BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: *Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a section to read: FINDINGS AND INTENT. The People of the State of Alaska find: (1) It is in the public interest of Alaska to improve the electoral process by increasing transparency, participation, access, and choice. (2) The people of Alaska hold that political power and influence should not be allocated based on wealth. Instead, reasonable limits on the role of money in elections are necessary to secure the equal rights of Alaskans and to protect the integrity of Alaska elections. Several rulings of the United States Supreme Court have erroneously changed the meaning of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution so as to empower unlimited spending as "free speech" without proper consideration of factors such as the danger of corruption and the undermining of self?governance in Alaska by the undue influence of wealth, including from outside the state. These mistaken Supreme Court decisions have invalidated longstanding anti-corruption laws in Alaska. Alaska shall now affirm the rights and powers of its citizens by prohibiting the use of 1 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE dark money in its candidate elections and by supporting an amendment to the United States Constitution allowing citizens to regulate the raising and spending of money in elections. (3) The people of Alaska have the right to know in a timely manner the source, quantity, timing, and nature of resources used to influence candidate elections in Alaska. This right requires the prompt, accessible, comprehensible, and public disclosure of the true and original sources of funds used to influence these elections, and is essential to the rights of free speech, assembly, and petition guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and shall be construed broadly. (4) it is in the public interest of Alaska to adopt a primary election system that is open and nonpartisan, which will generate more qualified and competitive candidates for elected office, boost voter turnout, better reflect the will of the electorate, reward cooperation, and reduce partisanship among elected officials. (5) It is in the public interest of Alaska to adopt a general election system that reflects the core democratic principle of majority rule. A ranked-choice voting system will help ensure that the values of elected officials more broadly reflect the values of the electorate, mitigate the likelihood that a candidate who is disapproved by a majority of voters will get elected, encourage candidates to appeal to a broader section of the electorate, allow Alaskans to vote for the candidates that most accurately reflect their values without risking the election of those candidates that least accurately reflect their values, encourage greater third-party and independent participation in elections, and provide a stronger mandate for winning candidates. *Sec. 2. AS 15.10.120(c) is amended to read: An election supervisor shall appoint one nominee of the political party or political group with the largest number of registered voters at the time of the preceding gubernatorial election WHICH THE GOVERNOR IS A and one nominee of the political party p_r_ political group with the second largest number of registered voters at the time of STATEWIDE the preceding gubernatorial election. However the election supervisor may appoint a Qualified person registered as a member of a third political nartv or political group or as a nonpartisan or undeclared voter if a party district committee or state party central committee of the party or group with the largest number of registered voters WHICH THE GOVERNOR IS A or the party or group with the second largest number of registered voters at the time of STATEWIDE the preceding gubernatorial election fails to present the names prescribed by of this section by April 15 of a regular election year or at least 60 days before a special primary election THE ELECTION SUPERVISOR MAY APPOINT ANY QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL REGISTERED TO *Sec. 3. AS 15.10.170 is amended to read: Sec. 15.10.170. Appointment and privileges of watchers. The precinct party committee, where an organized precinct committee exists, or the party district committee where no organized precinct committee exists, or the state party chairperson where neither a precinct nor a party district committee exists, may appoint one or more persons as watchers in each precinct and counting center for any election. Each candidate REPRESENTING A POLITICAL may appoint one or more watchers for each precinct or counting center in the 2 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE candidate's respective district or the state for any election. Any organization or organized group that sponsors or opposes an initiative, referendum, or recall may have one or more persons as watchers at the polls and counting centers after first obtaining authorization from the director. A state party chairperson, a precinct party committee, a party district committee, or a candidate REPRESENTING A POLITICAL PARTY OR ORGANIZATION OR ORGANIZED may not have more than one watcher on duty at a time in any precinct or counting center. A watcher must be a United States citizen. The watcher may be present at a position inside the place of voting or counting that affords a full view of all action of the election officials taken from the time the polls are opened until the ballots are finally counted and the results certified by the election board or the data processing review board. The election board or the data processing review board may require each watcher to present written proof showing appointment by the precinct party committee, the party district committee, the organization or organized group, or the candidate the watcher represents IS SIGNED BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PRECINCT PARTY COMMITTEE, THE PARTY DISTRICT COMMITTEE, THE STATE PARTY CHAIRPERSON, THE ORGANIZATION OR ORGANIZED GROUP, OR THE CANDIDATE REPRESENTING NO In addition to the watchers appointed under of this section, In a primary election special primary election or special election under AS 15.40.140, SPECIAL RUNOFF ELECTION UNDER each candidate may appoint one watcher in each precinct and counting center. *Sec. 4. AS 15.13.020(b) is amended to read: The governor shall appoint two members of each of the two political partieso_r political groups with the largest number of registered voters at the time of CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR RECEIVED THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES the most recent preceding general election at which a governor was elected. The two appointees from each of these two parties or groups shall be chosen from a list of four names to be submitted by the central committee of each party or group. *Sec. 5. AS 15.13.020Id) is amended to read: Members of the commission serve staggered terms of five years, or until a successor is appointed and qualifies. The terms of no two members who are members of the same political party or political group may expire in consecutive years. A member may not serve more than one term. However, a person appointed to fill the unexpired term of a predecessor may be appointed to a successive full five-year term. *Sec. 6. AS is amended to read: (3) for all contributions described in (2) of this subsection, the name, address, date, and amount contributed by each contributor, for all contributions described in (2) of this subsection in excess of $250 in the aggregate during a calendar year, the principal occupation and employer of the contributor. and for all contributions described in fill of this subsection in excess of $2,000 in the aggregate during a calendar year. the true source of such contributions and all intermedia riesI if any. who transferred such funds. and a certification from the treasurer that the report discloses all of the information reguired by this paragraph. BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE *Sec. 7. AS 15.13.040 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: (5) Every individual, person, nongroup entity, or group that contributes more than $2,000 in the aggregate in a calendar year to an entity that made one or more independent expenditures in one or more candidate elections in the previous election cycle, that is making one or more independent expenditures in one or more candidate elections in the current election cycle, or that the contributor knows or has reason to know is likely to make independent expenditures in one or more candidate elections in the current election cycle shall report making the contribution or contributions on a form prescribed by the commission not later than 24 hours after the contribution that requires the contributor to report under this subsection is made. The report must include the name, address, principal occupation, and employer of the individual filing the report and the amount of the contribution, as well as the total amount of contributions made to that entity by that individual, person, nongroup entity, or group during the calendar year. For purposes of this subsection, the reporting contributor is required to report and certify the true sources of the contribution, and intermediaries, if any, as defined by AS This contributor is also required to provide the identity of the true source to the recipient of the contribution simultaneously with providing the contribution itself. *Sec. 8. AS 15.13.070 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: Where contributions are made to a joint campaign for governor and lieutenant governor, (1) An individual may contribute not more than $1,000 per year; and (2) A group may contribute not more than $2,000 per year. *Sec. 9. AS 15.13.074(b) is amended to read: A person or group may not make a contribution anonymously, using a fictitious name, or using the name of another. Individuals. persons. nongroup entities. or groups subiect to AS 15.13.040lsl mav not contribute or accept $2,000 or more of dark money as that term is defined in AS and may not make a contribution while acting as an intermediarv without disclosing the true source of the contribution as defined in AS 15.13.400l18l. *Sec. 10. AS 15.13.074(c) is amended to read: A person or group may not make a contribution (1) to a candidate or an individual who files with the commission the document necessary to permit that individual to incur certain election-related expenses as authorized by AS 15.13.100 when the office is to be filled at a general election before the date that is 18 months before the general election; (2) to a candidate or an individual who files with the commission the document necessary to permit that individual to incur certain election-related expenses as authorized by AS 15.13.100 for an office that is to be filled at a special election or municipal election before the date that is 18 months before the date of the regular municipal election or that is before the date of the proclamation of the special election at which the candidate or individual seeks election to public office; or (3) to any candidate later than the 45th day BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE (A) after the date of the primary or special primary: election if the candidate was THE BALLOT AND not chosen to on the general or special election ballot at the primary or SQegiaI primary election; or (B) after the date of the general or sgecial election, or after the date of a municipal or municipal runoff election. *Sec. 11. AS 15.13.090(c) is amended to read: To satisfy the requirements of of this section and, if applicable, of this section, a communication that includes a print or video component must have the following statement or statements placed in the communication so as to be easily discerniblem broadcast, cable. satellite. internet or other digital communication the statement must inlain onscreen throughout the entiretv of the communication; the second statement is not required if the person paying for the communication has no contributors or is a political party: This communication was paid for by (person?s name and city and state of principal place of business). The top contributors of (person?s name) are (the name and city and state of residence or principal place of business, as applicable, of the largest contributors to the person under AS *Sec. 12. AS 15.13.090 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: To satisfy the requirements of of this section and, if applicable, of this section, a communication paid for by an outside-funded entity as that term is defined in AS 15.13.400(19) that includes a print or video component must have the following statement placed in the communication so as to be easily discernible, and in a broadcast, cable, satellite, internet or other digital communication the statement must remain onscreen throughout the entirety of the communication; the statement is not required if the outside entity paying for the communication has no contributors or is a political party: MAJORITY OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO (OUTSIDE-FUNDED NAME) CAME FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE OF *Sec. 13. AS 15.13.110(f) is amended to read: During the year in which the election is scheduled, each of the following shall file the campaign disclosure reports in the manner and at the times required by this section: (1) a person who, under the regulations adopted by the commission to implement AS 15.13.100, indicates an intention to become a candidate for elective state executive or legislative office; (2) PERSON WHO HAS FILED A NOMINATING PETITION UNDER A515.25.140 - 15.25.200 TO BECOME A CANDIDATE AT THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR ELECTIVE STATE EXECUTIVE OR LEGISLATIVE a person who campaigns as a write-in candidate for elective state executive or legislative office at the general election; and a group or nongroup entity that receives contributions or makes expenditures on behalf of or in opposition to a person described in or - of this subsection, except as provided for certain independent expenditures by nongroup entities in AS BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE *Sec. 14. AS 15.13.110 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: Once contributions from an individual, person, nongroup entity, or group to an entity that made one or more independent expenditures in one or more candidate elections in the previous election cycle, that is making one or more independent expenditures in one or more candidate elections in the current election cycle, or that the contributor knows or has reason to know is likely to make independent expenditures in one or more candidate elections in the current election cycle exceed $2,000 in a single year, that entity shall report that contribution, and all subsequent contributions, not later than 24 hours after receipt. For purposes of this subsection, the entity is required to certify and report the true source, and all intermediaries if any, of the contribution as defined by AS *Sec. 15. AS 15.13.390(a) is amended to read: A person who fails to register when required by AS 15.13.050(a) or who fails to file a properly completed and certified report within the time required by AS 15.13.040, 15.13.060(b) (3), or (4), or is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $50 a day for each day the delinquency continues as determined by the commission subject to right of appeal to the superior court. A person who fails to file a properly completed and certified report within the time required by AS or 15.13.110(b) is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $500 a day for each day the delinquency continues as determined by the commission subject to right of appeal to the superior court; A person who, whether as a contributor or intermediary, delays in reporting a contribution as reguired by AS 15.13.040ls) is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 a dav for each dav the delinquencv continues as determined bv the commission subject to right of appeal to the superior court; (3) A person who. whether as a contributor or intermediary. misreports or fails to disclose the true source of a contribution in violation of AS 15.13.040isl or A5 15.13.074lbl is subiect to a civil permit! of not more than the amount of the contribution that is the subiect of the misreporting or failure to disclose. Upon a showing that the violation was intentional. a civil oenaltv of not more than th_ree times the amount of the contribution in violation may be imposed. These penalties as determined by the commission are subject to right of appeal to the superior court: (A) A person who violates a provision of this chapter, except PROVISION REQUIRING REGISTRATION OR FILING OF A REPORT WITHIN A TIME as otherwise specified in this section, is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $50 a day for each day the violation continues as determined by the commission, subject to right of appeal to the superior (5) An affidavit stating facts in mitigation may be submitted to the commission by a person against whom a civil penalty is assessed. However, the imposition of the penalties prescribed in this section or in AS 15.13.380 does not excuse that person from registering or filing reports required by this chapter. *Sec. 16. AS 15.13.400(4) is amended to read: (4) "contribution" BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE (A) means a purchase, payment, promise or obligation to pay, loan or loan guarantee, deposit or gift of money, goods, or services for which charge is ordinarily made, and includes the payment by a person other than a candidate or political party, or compensation for the personal services of another person, that is rendered to the candidate or political party, and that is made for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of a candidate; (ii) influencing a ballot proposition or question; or supporting or opposing an initiative proposal application filed with the lieutenant governor under AS 15.45.020; (B) does not include services provided without compensation by individuals volunteering a portion or all of their time on behalf of a political party, candidate, or ballot proposition or question; (ii) ordinary hospitality in a home; two or fewer mass mailings before each election by each political party describing members of the nartv running as candidates for public office in that election SLATE 0F CANDIDATES FOR which may include photographs, biographies, and information about the candidates; (iv) the results of a poll limited to issues and not mentioning any candidate, unless the poll was requested by or designed primarily to benefit the candidate; any communication in the form of a newsletter from a legislator to the legislator's constituents, except a communication expressly advocating the election or defeat of a candidate or a newsletter or material in a newsletter that is clearly only for the private benefit of a legislator or a legislative employee; (vi) a fundraising list provided without compensation by one candidate or political party to a candidate or political party; or (vii) an opportunity to participate in a candidate forum provided to a candidate without compensation to the candidate by another person and for which a candidate is not ordinarily charged; *Sec. 17. AS 15.13.400 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: (17) "dark money? means a contribution whose source or sources, whether from wages, investment income, inheritance, or revenue generated from selling goods or services, is not disclosed to the public. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent a membership organization receives dues or contributions of less than $2,000 per person per year, the organization itself shall be considered the true source. *Sec. 18. AS 15.13.400 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: (18) ?true source? means the person or legal entity whose contribution is funded from wages, investment income, inheritance, or revenue generated from selling goods or services. A person or legal entity who derived funds via contributions, donations, dues, or gifts is not the true source, but rather an intermediary for the true source. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE the extent a membership organization receives dues or contributions of less than $2,000 per person per year, the organization itself shall be considered the true source. *Sec. 19. AS 15.13.400 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: (19) "outside-funded entity" means an entity that makes one or more independent expenditures in one or more candidate elections and that, during the previous 12-month period, received more than 50 percent of its aggregate contributions from true sources, or their equivalents, who, at the time of the contribution, resided or had their principal place of business outside Alaska. *Sec. 20. AS 15.15 is amended by adding a new section to read: Sec. 15,15,005. Top fournonpartisan open primary. A voter,,qualifie,d under AS 15.05 may cast a vote for any candidate for each elective state executive and state and national legislative office, without limitations based on the political party or political group affiliation of either the voter or the candidate. *Sec. 21. AS 15.15.030(5) is amended to read: (5) The names of the candidates THEIR PARTY shall be placed in separate sections on the state general election ballot under the office designation to which they were nominated. If a candidate is registered as affiliated with a political lilartiir or political group, the party affiliation, if any, my be designated after the name of the candidate,_upon reguest of the candidate. If a candidate has reguested designation as nonpartisan or undeclared, that designation shall be placed after the name of the candidate. If a candidate is not registered as affiliated with a political oartv or political group and has not requested to be designated as nonpartisan or undeciared. the candidate shall be designated as undeclared. The lieutenant governor and the governor shall be included under the same section. Provision shall be made for voting for write-in candidates within each section. Paper ballots for the state general election shall be printed on white paper. *Sec. 22. AS 15.15.030 is amended by adding new paragraphs to read: (14) The director shall include the following statement on the ballot: A candidate's designated affiliation does not imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the political party or group or that the party or group approves of or associates with that candidate, but only that the candidate is registered as affiliated with the political party or political group. (15) Instead of the statement provided by (14) of this section, when candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States appear on a general election ballot, the director shall include the following statement on the ballot: A candidate's designated affiliation does not imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the political party or political group or that the political party or political group approves of or associates with that candidate, but only that the candidate is registered as affiliated with the party or group. The election for President and Vice-President of the United States is different. Some candidates for President and Vice-President are the official nominees of their political party. BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE (16) The director shall design the general election ballots so that the candidates are selected by ranked-choice voting. (17) The director shall design the general election ballot to direct the voter to mark candidates in order of preference and to mark as many choices as the voter wishes, but not to assign the same ranking to more than one candidate for the same office. *Sec. 23. AS 15.15.060 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: In each polling place, the director shall require to be posted, in a location conspicuous to a person who will be voting, the following notice, written in bold: A candidate's designated affiliation does not imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the political party or group or that the party or group approves of or associates with that candidate, but only that the candidate is registered as affiliated with the party or group. *Sec. 24. AS 15.15.350 is amended by adding new subsections to read: All general elections shall be conducted by ranked-choice voting. When counting ballots in a general election, the election board shall initially tabulate each validly cast ballot as one vote for the highest-ranked continuing candidate on that ballot or as an inactive ballot. If a candidate is highest-ranked on more than one?half of the active ballots, that candidate is elected and the tabulation is complete. Otherwise, tabulation proceeds in sequential rounds as follows: (1) if two or fewer continuing candidates remain, the candidate with the greatest number of votes is elected and the tabulation is complete; otherwise, the tabulation continues under (2) of this subsection; (2) the candidate with the fewest votes is defeated, votes cast for the defeated candidate shall cease counting for the defeated candidate and shall be added to the totals of each ballot's next-highest-ranked continuing candidate or considered an inactive ballot under of this section, and a new round begins under (1) of this subsection. When counting general election ballots, (1) a ballot containing an overvote shall be considered an inactive ballot once the overvote is encountered at the highest ranking for a continuing candidate; (2) if a ballot skips a ranking, then the election board shall count the next ranking. If the next ranking is another skipped ranking, the ballot shall be considered an inactive ballot once the second skipped ranking is encountered; and (3) In the event of a tie between the final two continuing candidates, the procedures in AS 15.15.460 and AS 15.20.430 15.20.530 shall apply to determine the winner of the general election. in the event of a tie between two candidates with the fewest votes, the tie shall be resolved by lot to determine which candidate is defeated. The election board may not count an inactive ballot for any candidate. In this section, (1) "continuing candidate" means a candidate who has not been defeated; (2) ?inactive ballot" means a ballot that is no longer tabulated, either in whole or in part, by the division because it does not rank any continuing candidate, contains an BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE overvote at the highest continuing ranking, or contains two or more sequential skipped rankings before its highest continuing ranking; (3) "overvote" means an instance where a voter has assigned the same ranking to more than one candidate; (4) "ranking" or "ranked" means the number assigned by a voter to a candidate to express the voter's choice for that candidate; a ranking of is the highest ranking, followed by and then and so on; (5) "round" means an instance of the sequence of voting tabulation in a general election; (6) "skipped ranking" means a blank ranking on a ballot on which a voter has ranked another candidate at a subsequent ranking. *Sec. 25. AS 15.15.360(a) is amended to read: The election board shall count ballots according to the following rules: (1) A voter may mark a ballot only by filling in, making marks, diagonal, horizontal, or vertical marks, solid marks, stars, circles, asterisks, checks, or plus signs that are clearly spaced in the oval opposite the name of the candidate, proposition, or question that the voter desires to designate. In a general election, a voter may: mark a ballot that requires the voter to vote for candidates in order of ranked preference by the use of numerals that are clearlv spaced in one of the ovals opposite the name of the candidate that the voter desires to designate. (2) A failure to properly mark a ballot as to one or more candidates does not itself invalidate the entire ballot. (3) A VOTER MARKS FEWER NAMES THAN THERE ARE PERSONS TO BE ELECTED TO THE OFFICE, A VOTE SHALL BE COUNTED FOR EACH CANDIDATE PROPERLY MARKED. The mark specified in (1) of this subsection shall be counted only if it is substantially inside the oval provided, or touching the oval so as to indicate clearly that the voter intended the particular oval to be designated. Improper marks on the ballot may not be counted and do not invalidate marks for candidates properly made. An erasure or correction invalidates only that section of the ballot in which it appears. A vote marked for the candidate for President or Vice-President of the United States is considered and counted as a vote for the election of the presidential electors. (9) (10) (11) (12) *Sec. 26. AS 15.15.370 is amended to read: Sec. 15.15.370. Completion of ballot count; certificate. When the count of ballots is completed, and in no event later than the day after the election, the election board shall make a certificate in duplicate of the results. The certificate includes the number of votes cast for 10 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE each candidate, including. for a candidate in a general election. the number of votes at each round of the ranked-choice tabulation process under AS 15.15.350, and the number of votes for and against each proposition, yes or no on each question, and any additional information prescribed by the director. The election board shall, immediately upon completion of the certificate or as soon thereafter as the local mail service permits, send in one sealed package to the director one copy of the certificate and the register. In addition, all ballots properly cast shall be mailed to the director in a separate, sealed package. Both packages, in addition to an address on the outside, shall clearly indicate the precinct from which they come. Each board shall, immediately upon completion of the certification and as soon thereafter as the local mail service permits, send the duplicate certificate to the respective election supervisor. The director may authorize election boards in precincts in those areas of the state where distance and weather make mail communication unreliable to forward their election results by telephone, telegram, or radio. The director may authorize the unofficial totaling of votes on a regional basis by election supervisors, tallying the votes as indicated on duplicate certificates. To ensure adequate protection, the director shall prescribe the manner in which the ballots, registers, and all other election records and materials are thereafter preserved, transferred, and destroyed. *Sec. 27. AS 15.15.450 is amended to read: Sec. 15.15.450. Certification of state ballot counting review. Upon completion of the state ballot counting review,the director shall certify the person receiving the largest number of votes for the office for which that person was nominated or elected, as applicable, IA CANDIDATE AS ELECTED TO THAT and shall certify the approval of a justice or judge not rejected by a majority of the voters voting on the question. The director shall issue to the elected candidates and approved justices and judges a certificate of their election or approval. The director shall also certify the results of a proposition and other question except that the lieutenant governor shall certify the results of an initiative, referendum, or constitutional amendment. Sec. 28. AS 15.20.081(a) is amended to read: A qualified voter may apply in person, by mail, or by facsimile, scanning, or other electronic transmission to the director for an absentee ballot under this section. Another individual may apply for an absentee ballot on behalf of a qualified voter if that individual is designated to act on behalf of the voter in a written general power of attorney or a written special power of attorney that authorizes the other individual to apply for an absentee ballot on behalf of the voter. The application must include the address or, if the application requests delivery of an absentee ballot by electronic transmission, the telephone electronic transmission number, to which the absentee ballot is to be returned, the applicant's full Alaska residence address, and the applicant's signature. However, a person residing outside the United States and applying to vote absentee in federal elections in accordance with AS 15.05.011 need not include an Alaska residence address in the application. A person may supply to a voter an absentee ballot application form with a political party or group affiliation indicated only if the voter is already registered as affiliated with the political party or group indicated. THE VOTER OR THE INDIVIDUAL DESIGNATED BY THE VOTER IN A POWER OF ATTORNEY UNDER THIS SUBSECTION MAY MARK THE CHOICE OF PRIMARY BALLOT ON AN 11 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE APPLICATION. A PERSON SUPPLYING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION FORM MAY NOT DESIGN OR MARK THE APPLICATION IN A MANNER THAT SUGGESTS CHOICE OF ONE BALLOT OVER ANOTHER, EXCEPT THAT BALLOT CHOICES MAY BE LISTED ON AN APPLICATION AS AUTHORIZED BY THE The application must be made on a form prescribed or approved by the director. The voter or registration official shall submit the application directly to the division of elections. For purposes of this subsection, "directly to the division of elections" means that an application may not be submitted to any intermediary that could control or delay the submission of the application to the division or gather data on the applicant from the application form. However, nothing in this subsection is intended to prohibit a voter from giving a completed absentee ballot application to a friend, relative, or associate for transfer to the United States Postal Service or a private commercial delivery service for delivery to the division. *Sec. 29. AS 15.20.081(h) is amended to read: Except as provided in AS 15.20.480, an absentee ballot returned by mail from outside the United States or from an overseas voter qualifying under AS 15.05.011 that has been marked and mailed not later than election day may not be counted unless the ballot is received by the election supervisor not later than the close of business on the (1) 10th day following a primary election or special primary election under AS 15.40.140; or (2) 15th day following a general election SPECIAL RUNOFF or special election, other than a special primary election described in (1) of this subsection. *Sec. 30. AS 15.20.190(a) is amended to read: Thirty days before the date of an election, the election supervisors shall appoint, in the same manner provided for the appointment of election officials prescribed in AS 15.10, district absentee ballot counting boards and district questioned ballot counting boards, each composed of at least four members. At least one member of each board must be a member of the same political party or political eroun with the la I?Eest number of registered voters at the time of the preceding gubernatorial election WHICH THE GOVERNOR IS A and at least one member of each board must be a member of the political party or political group with the second largest number of registered voters at the time of CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR RECEIVED THE SECOND LARGEST NUMBER OF VOTES the preceding gubernatorial election. The district boards shall assist the election supervisors in counting the absentee and questioned ballots and shall receive the same compensation paid election officials under AS 15.15.380. *Sec. 31. AS 15.20.2030) is amended to read: The director shall mail the materials described in of this section to the voter not later than (1) 10 days after completion of the review of ballots by the state review board for a primary election or a special primary election under AS 15.40.140 IS FOLLOWED BY A SPECIAL RUNOFF 12 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE (2) 60 days after certification of the results of a general election RUNOFF or special election other than a special primary election described in (1) of this subsection. *Sec. 32. AS 15202030) is amended to read: The director shall make available through a free access system to each absentee voter a system to check to see whether the voter's ballot was counted and, if not counted, the reason why the ballot was not counted. The director shall make this information available through the free access system not less than (1) 10 days after certification of the results of a primary election or a special primary election under AS 15.40.140 IS FOLLOWED BY A SPECIAL RUNOFF and (2) 30 days after certification of the results of a general or special election, other than a special primary election described in (1) of this subsection. *Sec. 33. AS 15.20.207(i) is amended to read: The director shall mail the materials described in of this section to the voter not later than (1) 10 days after completion of the review of ballots by the state review board for a primary election or a special primary election under AS 15.40.140 IS FOLLOWED BY A SPECIAL RUNOFF (2) 60 days after certification of the results of a general or special election, other than a special primary election described in (1) of this subsection. *Sec. 34. AS 15.20.207(k) is amended to read: The director shall make available through a free access system to each voter voting a questioned ballot a system to check to see whether the voter's ballot was counted and, if not counted, the reason why the ballot was not counted. The director shall make this information available through the free access system not less than (1) 10 days after certification of the resUIts of a primary election or a special primary election under AS 15.40.140 is FOLLOWED BY A SPECIAL RUNOFF and (2) 30 days after certification of the results of a general or special election, other than a special primary election described in (1) of this subsection. *Sec. 35. AS 15.20.211(d) is amended to read: The director shall mail the materials described in of this section to the voter not later than (1) 10 days after completion of the review of ballots by the state review board for a primary election or 3 special primary election under AS 15.40.140 IS FOLLOWED BY A SPECIAL RUNOFF (2)60 days after certification of the results of a general or special election, other than a special primary election described in (1) of this subsection. *Sec. 36. AS 15.20.211(f) is amended to read: 13 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE The director shall make available through a free access system to each voter whose ballot was subject to partial counting under this section a system to check to see whether the voter's ballot was partially counted and, if not counted, the reason why the ballot was not counted. The director shall make this information available through the free access system not less than (1) 10 days after certification of the results of a primary election or a special primam election under AS 15.40.140 IS FOLLOWED BY A SPECIAL RUNOFF and (2)30 days after certification of the results of a general or special election, other than a special primary election described in (1) of this subsection. "Sec. 3.7.. isamended to read: Sec. 15.25.010. Provision for primary election. Candidates for the elective state executive and state and national legislative offices shall be nominated in a primary election by direct vote of the people in the manner prescribed by this chapter. The nrimarv election does not serve to determine the nominee of a political party or political group but serves only to narrow the number of candidates whose names will appear on the ballot at the general election. Except as provided in A5 15.25.100ldl. onlv the four candidates who receive the greatest number of votes for any office shall advance to the general election DIRECTOR SHALL PREPARE AND PROVIDE A PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOT FOR EACH POLITICAL PARTY. A VOTER REGISTERED AS AFFILIATED WITH A POLITICAL PARTY MAY VOTE THAT BALLOT. A VOTER REGISTERED AS NONPARTISAN OR UNDECLARED RATHER THAN AS AFFILIATED WITH A PARTICULAR POLITICAL PARTY MAY VOTE THE POLITICAL PARTY BALLOT OF THE CHOICE UNLESS PROHIBITED FROM DOING SO UNDER AS 15.25.014. A VOTER REGISTERED AS AFFILIATED WITH A POLITICAL PARTY MAY NOT VOTE THE BALLOT OF A DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTY UNLESS PERMITTED TO DO SO UNDER AS 15.25.014]. *Sec. 38. AS 15.25.030(a) is amended to read: A person OF A POLITICAL who seeks to become a candidate THE in the primary election or a special primary election shall execute and file a declaration of candidacy. The declaration shall be executed under oath before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments and must state in substance (1) the full name of the candidate; (2) the full mailing address of the candidate; (3) if the candidacy is for the office of state senator or state representative, the house or senate district of which the candidate is a resident; (4) the office for which the candidate seeks nomination; (S) the OF political party or political group with whom the candidate is registered as affiliated. or whether the candidate would prefer a nonpartisan or undeclared designation placed after the candidate's name on the ballot WHICH THE PERSON IS A CANDIDATE FOR (6) the full residence address of the candidate, and the date on which residency at that address began; (7) the date of the primary election or special orimarv election at which the candidate seeks nomination; 14 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE (8) the length of residency in the state and in the district of the candidate; (9) that the candidate will meet the specific citizenship requirements of the office for which the person is a candidate; (10) that the candidate is a qualified voter as required by law; (11) that the candidate will meet the specific age requirements of the office for which the person is a candidate; if the candidacy is for the office of state representative, that the candidate will be at least 21 years of age on the first scheduled day of the first regular session of the legislature convened after the election; if the candidacy is for the office of state senator, that the candidate will be at least 25 years of age on the first scheduled day of the first regular session of the legislature convened after the election; if the candidacy is for the office of governor or lieutenant governor, that the candidate will be at least 30 years of age on the first Monday in December following election or, if the office is to be filled by special election under AS 15.40.230 - 15.40.310, that the candidate will be at least 30 years of age on the date of certification of the results of the special election; or, for any other office, by the time that the candidate, if elected, is sworn into office; (12) that the candidate requests that the candidate's name be placed on the primary special primary: election ballot; (13) that the required fee accompanies the declaration; (14) that the person is not a candidate for any other office to be voted on at the primary or general election and that the person is not a candidate for this office under any other declaration of candidacy or nominating petition; (15) the manner in which the candidate wishes the candidate's name to appear on the ballot; (16] if the candidacv is for the office of the governor. the name of the candidate for lieutenant governor running iointlv with the candidate for governor; and (17] if the candidacv is for the office of lieutenant governor, the name of the candidate for governor running iointly with the candidate for lieutenant governor. THAT THE CANDIDATE IS REGISTERED TO VOTE AS A MEMBER OF THE POLITICAL PARTY WHOSE NOMINATION IS BEING *Sec. 39. AS 15.25.060 is repealed and reenacted to read: Sec. 15.25.060. Preparation and distribution of ballots. The primary election ballots shall be prepared and distributed by the director in the manner prescribed for general election ballots except as specifically provided otherwise for the primary election. The director shall prepare and provide a primary election ballot that contains all of the candidates for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices and all of the ballot titles and propositions required to appear on the ballot at the primary election. The director shall print the ballots on white paper and place the names of all candidates who have properly filed in groups according to offices. The order of the placement of the names for each office shall be as provided for the general election ballot. Blank spaces may not be provided on the ballot for the writing or pasting in of names. *Sec. 40. AS 15.25.100 is repealed and reenacted to read: Sec. 15.25.100. Placement of candidates on general election ballot. Except as provided in of this section, of the names of candidates that appear on the primary 15 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE election ballot under AS 15.25.010, the director shall place on the general election ballot only the names of the four candidates receiving the greatest number of votes for an office. For purposes of this subsection and of this section, candidates for lieutenant governor and governor are treated as a single 'paired unit. If two candidates tie in having the fourth greatest number of votes for an office in the primary election, the director shall determine under of this section which candidate's name shall appear on the general election ballot. Except as otherwise provided in of this section, if a candidate nominated at the primary election dies, withdraws, resigns, becomes disqualified from holding office for which the candidate is nominated, or is certified as being incapacitated in the manner prescribed by this section after the primary election and 64 days or more before the general election, the vacancy shall be filled by the director by replacing the withdrawn candidate with the candidate who received the fifth most votes in the primary election. If the withdrawn, resigned, deceased, disqualified, or incapacitated candidate was a candidate for governor or lieutenant governor, the replacement candidate is selected by the following process: (1) if the withdrawn, resigned, deceased, disqualified, or incapacitated candidate was the candidate for governor, that candidate?s lieutenant governor running mate becomes the candidate for governor, thereby creating a vacancy for the lieutenant governor candidate; (2) when any vacancy for the lieutenant governor candidate occurs, the candidate for governor shall select a qualified running mate to be the lieutenant governor candidate and notify the director of that decision. The director shall place the name of the persons selected through this process as candidates for governor and lieutenant governor on the general election ballot. For a candidate to be certified as incapacitated under of this section, a panel of three licensed physicians, not more than two of whom may be of the same party, shall provide the director with a sworn statement that the candidate is physically or mentally incapacitated to an extent that would, in the panel's judgment, prevent the candidate from active service during the term of office if elected. If the director is unable to make a determination under this section because the candidates received an equal number of votes, the determination may be made by lot under AS 15.20.530. *Sec. 41. AS 15.25.105(a) is amended to read: If a candidate does not appear on the primary election ballot or is not successful in advancing to the general election and wishes to be a candidate in the general election, the candidate may file as a write-in candidate. Votes for a write-in candidate may not be counted unless that candidate has filed a letter of intent with the director stating (1) the full name of the candidate; (2) the full residence address of the candidate and the date on which residency at that address began; (3) the full mailing address of the candidate; (4) the OF political party or political group with whom the candidate is registered as affiliated, or whether the candidate would prefer a 16 ELECTIONS INITIATIVE nonpartisan or undeclared designation. WHICH THE CANDIDATE IS A MEMBER, IF (5) if the candidate is for the office of state senator or state representative, the house or senate district of which the candidate is a resident; (6) the office that the candidate seeks; (7) the date of the election at which the candidate seeks election; (8) the length of residency in the state and in the house district of the candidate; (9) the name of the candidate as the candidate wishes it to be written on the ballot by the voter; (10) that the candidate meets the specific citizenship requirements of the office for which the person is a candidate; (11) that the candidate will meet the specific age requirements of the office for which the person is a candidate; if the candidacy is for the office of state representative, that the candidate will be at least 21 years of age on the first scheduled day of the first regular session of the legislature convened after the election; if the candidacy is for the office of state senator, that the candidate will be at least 25 years of age on the first scheduled day of the first regular session of the legislature convened after the election; if the candidacy is for the office of governor or lieutenant governor, that the candidate will be at least 30 years of age on the first Monday in December following election or, if the office is to be filled by special election under AS 15.40.230 - 15.40.310, that the candidate will be at least 30 years of age on the date of certification of the results of the special election; or, for any other office, by the time that the candidate, if elected, is sworn into office; (12) that the candidate is a qualified voter as required by law; and (13) that the candidate is not a candidate for any other office to be voted on at the general election and that the candidate is not a candidate for this office under any other nominating petition or declaration of candidacy. *Sec. 42. AS 15.25.105(b) is amended to read: If a write-in candidate is running for the office of governor, the candidate must file a joint letter of intent together with a candidate for lieutenant governor. CANDIDATES MUST BE OF THE SAME POLITICAL PARTY OR *Sec. 43. AS 15.30.010 is amended to read: Sec. 15.30.010. Provision for selection of electors. Electors of President and Vice President of the United States are selected by election at the general election in presidential election years[.] in the manner and as determined by the ranked-choice method of tabulating votes described in AS 15.15.350?15.15.370. *Sec. 44. AS 15.40.140 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.140. Condition of calling 5 ecial rim ele ion an special election. When a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator or United States representative, the governor shall, by proclamation, call a special primary election to be held on a date not less 17 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE than 60. nor more than 90, days after the date the Iwacancy: occurs, to be follpwed by a special election on the first Tuesday that is not a state holidav occurrine not less than 50 days after the special nrimarv election AS However, in an election year in which a candidate for that office is not regularly elected. if the vacancy occurs on a date that is n_ot less than 60. nor more than 90. days before IS ON OR the date of the primary THE GENERAL ELECTION YEAR DURING WHICH A CANDIDATE TO FILL THE OFFICE IS REGULARLY ELECTED, THE GOVERNOR MAY NOT CALL special primary election shall be held on the date of the prima? election with the subseguent special election to be held on the date ofthe general election; or the general election. the special primary election shall be held on the date of the general election with the subseguent special election to be held on the first Tuesday that is not a a holida occurrin not less the 60 a ecial rimar and eneraL, mm *Sec. 45. AS 15.40.160 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.160. Proclamation. The governor shall issue the proclamation calling the special primary: election and special election at least 50 days before the special primary election AND (2) IF A SPECIAL RUNOFF ELECTION IS REQUIRED UNDER AS SPECIAL RUNOFF *Sec. 46. AS 15.40.165 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.165. Term of elected senator. At the special election, AS PROVIDED BY AS 15.40.141, AT THE SPECIAL RU NOFF a United States senator shall be elected to fill the remainder of the unexpired term. The person elected shall take office on the date the United States Senate meets, convenes, or reconvenes following the certification of the results of the special election SPECIAL RUNOFF by the director. *Sec. 47. AS 15.40.170 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.170. Term of elected representative. At the special election, AS PROVIDED BY AS 15.40.141, AT THE SPECIAL RUNOFF a United States representative shall be elected to fill the remainder of the unexpired term. The person elected shall take office on the date the United States house of representatives meets, convenes, or reconvenes following the certification of the results of the special election SPECIAL RUNOFF by the director. *Sec. 48. AS 15.40.190 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.190. Requirements of petition for candidates. Petitions for the nomination of candidates must be executed under oath, REPRESENTING A POLITICAL PARTY SHALL BE SIGNED BY QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE STATE EQUAL IN NUMBER TO AT LEAST ONE PERCENT OF THE NUMBER OF VOTERS WHO CAST BALLOTS IN THE PRECEDING GENERAL ELECTION AND state in substance that which is required for a declaration of candidacv 18 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE under AS 15.25.030. and include the fee required under AS 15.25.050lal PETITIONS BY AS 15.25.180]. *Sec. 49. AS 15.40.220 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.220. General provisions for conduct ofm special primary election and special election. Unless specifically provided otherwise, all provisions regarding the conduct of the primary election and general election shall govern the conduct of the special primary election and special election of the United States senator or United States representative, including provisions concerning voter qualifications; provisions regarding the duties, powers, rights, and obligations of the director, of other election officials, and of municipalities; provision for notification of the election; provision for payment of election expenses; provisions regarding employees being allowed time from work to vote; provisions for the counting, reviewing, and certification of returns; FOR RUNNING AS, VOTING FOR, AND COUNTING BALLOTS FOR A WRITE-IN provisions for the determination of the votes and of recounts, contests, and appeal; and provision for absentee voting. *Sec. 50. AS 15.40.230 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.230. Condition and time of calling special primary election and special election. When a person appointed to succeed to the office of lieutenant governor succeeds to the office of acting governor, the acting governor shall, by proclamation, call a special primary election to be held on a date not less than 60, nor more than 90, days after the date the vacancy in the office of the governor occurred and a subseguent special election to be held on the first Tuesday that is not a state holidayI occurring not less than 60 davs after the Special primary election. However, if the vacancy occurs on a date that is less than 60 days before or is on or after the date of the primary election in years in?which a governor is regularly elected, the acting governor shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term and may not call a special election. *Sec. 51. AS 15.40.240 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.240. Conditions for holding special primary election and special election with primary or general election. If the vacancy occurs on a date not less than 60, nor more than 90, days before the date of the primary election in an election year in which a eovernor is no larl i th in overnor shall roclamati a he eci rimar election to be held on the date of the primaryl election and the special election to be held on the date of the general election. YEARS IN WHICH A GOVERNOR IS REGULARLY or, if the vacancy occurs on a date not less than 60, nor more than 90, days before the date of the ELECTION general election in election years in which a governor is not regularly elected, the acting governor shall, by proclamation, call the special primary election to be held on the date of the ELECTION general election with the subseguent special electipn t9 be held pn the first Tpesday that is not a state holiday pccurring not less than 60 days after the special mimarv and general election. *Sec. 52. AS 15.40.250 is amended to read: 19 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE Sec. 15.40.250. Proclamation of special primarv election and special election. The acting governor shall issue the proclamation calling the special primary election and special election at least 50 days before the special primacy: election. *Sec. 53. AS 15.40.280 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.280. Requirements of petition for candidates. Petitions for the nomination of candidates must be executed under oath. REPRESENTING A POLITICAL PARTY SHALL BE SIGNED BY QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE STATE EQUAL IN NUMBER TO AT LEAST ONE PERCENT OF THE NUMBER OF VOTERS WHO CAST BALLOTS IN THE PRECEDING GENERAL ELECTION, SHALL INCLUDE NOMINEES FOR THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND state in substance that which is required for a declaration of candidac under AS 15.25.030 and includ fe uired under AS 15.25.050 a PETITIONS BY AS 15.25.180]. *Sec. 54. AS 15.40.310 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.310. General provisions for conduct of the special primary election and special election. Unless specifically provided otherwise, all provisions regarding the conduct of the primary and general election shall govern the conduct of the special primary glection and spepial election of the governor and lieutenant governor, including provisions concerning voter qualifications; provisions regarding the duties, powers, rights, and obligations of the director, of other election officials, and of municipalities; provision for notification of the election; provision for payment of election expenses; provisions regarding employees being allowed time from work to vote; provisions for the counting, reviewing, and certification of returns; provisions for the determination of the votes and of recounts, contests, and appeal; and provision for absentee voting. *Sec. 55. AS 15.40.330 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.330. Qualification and confirmation of appointee. The appointee shall meet the qualifications of a member of the legislature as prescribed in Sec. 2, art. II, of the state constitution, and. if the predecessor in office ?ip member of a politicalpartv or political group at the time of the vacancy. shall be a member of the same political party or political group as WHICH the predecessor in office;l and shall be subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the legislature who are members of the same political party or political group as the predecessor in office and of the same house as was the predecessor in office. If the predecessor in office was not a member of a political party or political group at the time of the vacancy or. if no other member of the predecessor's political party or political group is a member of the predecessor's house of the legislature, the governor may appoint any qualified person. If the appointee is not a member of a political party or political group. as provided in of this section, the appointment is not subject to confirmation. If the appointee is a member of a political party political group, the appointment is subject to confirmation as provided by of this section for the confirmation of political party molitical group appointees. A member of a political party or ppligical group is a person who supports the political program of a political party or political group. The absence of a political party: or politigal group designation after 1c_anclida_te's name on an election ballot FOR OFFICE OF A 20 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE CANDIDATE AS AN INDEPENDENT OR NO-PARTY does not preclude a candidate from being a member of a political party or political group. Recognition of; INDEPENDENT OR candidate as a member of a political party or political group caucus of members of the legislature at the legislative session following the election of the OR candidate is recognition of that person's political party or political group membership for the purposes of confirmation under this section THE TIME FILINGS WERE MADE BY PARTY CANDIDATES FOR THE PRECEDING GENERAL *Sec. 56. AS 15.40.380 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.380. Conditions for part-term senate appointment and special election. If the vacancy is for an unexpired senate term of more than two years and five full calendar months, the governor shall call a special primary: election and a special election by proclamationpand the appointment shall expire on the date the state senate first convenes or reconvenes following the certification of the results of the special election by the director. *Sec. 57. AS 15.40.390 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.390. Date of special primary election and special election. The special primary election to fill a vacancy in the state senate shall be held on the date of the first primary election held more than 5.01m FULL CALENDAR after the senate vacancy occurs, and the special elegtion shall be held on the date of the first general election thereafter. *Sec. 58. AS 15.40.400 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.400. Proclamation of special primary election and special election. The governor shall issue the proclamation calling the special primary election and special election at least 50 days before the special primary election. *Sec. 59. AS 15.40.440 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.440. Requirements of petition for candidates. Petitions for the nomination of candidates REPRESENTING A POLITICAL PARTY SHALL BE SIGNED BY QUALIFIED VOTERS EQUAL IN NUMBER TO AT LEAST ONE PERCENT OF THE NUMBER OF VOTERS WHO CAST BALLOTS IN THE PROPOSED RESPECTIVE HOUSE OR SENATE DISTRICT IN THE PRECEDING GENERAL ELECTION. A NOMINATING PETITION MAY NOT CONTAIN LESS THAN 50 SIGNATURES FOR ANY DISTRICT, must be executed under oath, state in substance that which is required in a declaration of candidacy: under AS 15.25.030I and include the fee reguired under AS 15.25.050[a FOR NOMINATION BY AS 15.25.180]. *Sec. 60. AS 15.40.470 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.470. General provision for conduct of the special primary election and special election. Unless specifically provided otherwise, all provisions regarding the conduct of the primary election and general election shall govern the conduct of the special primary election and special election of state senators, including provisions concerning voter qualifications; provisions regarding the duties, powers, rights, and obligations of the director, of other election officials, and of municipalities; provision for notification of the election; provision for payment of election expenses; provisions regarding employees being allowed time from 21 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE work to vote; provisions for the counting, reviewing, and certification of returns; provisions for the determination of the votes and of recounts, contests, and appeal; and provision for absentee voting. *Sec. 61. AS 15.45.190 is amended to read: Sec. 15.45.190. Placing proposition on ballot. The lieutenant governor shall direct the director to place the ballot title and proposition on the election ballot of the first statewide general, special, special primary or primary election that is held after (1) the petition has been filed; (2) a legislative session has convened and adjourned; and (3) a period of 120 days has expired since the adjournment of the legislative session. *Sec. 62. AS 15.45.420 is amended to read: Sec. 15.45.420. Placing proposition on ballot. The lieutenant governor shall direct the director to place the ballot title and proposition on the election ballot for the first statewide general, special, special primary or primary election held more than 180 days after adjournment of the legislative session at which the act was passed. *Sec. 63. AS 15.58.010 is amended to read: Sec. 15.58.010. Election pamphlet. Before each state general election, and before each state primary, special, or special primary election at which a ballot proposition is scheduled to appear on the ballot, the lieutenant governor shall prepare, publish, and mail at least one election pamphlet to each household identified from the official registration list. The pamphlet shall be prepared on a regional basis as determined by the lieutenant governor. *Sec. 64. AS 15.58.020(a) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: (13) the following statement written in bold in a conspicuous location: Each candidate may designate the political party or political group that the candidate is registered as affiliated with. A candidate's political party or political group designation on a ballot does not imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the party or political group or that the party or group approves of or associates with that candidate. In each race, you may vote for any candidate listed. If a primary election was held for a state office, United States senator, or United States representative, the four candidates who received the most votes for the office in the primary election advanced to the general election. However, if one of the four candidates who received the most votes for an office at the primary election died, withdrew, resigned, was disqualified, or was certified as incapacitated 64 days or more before the general election, the candidate who received the fifth most votes for the office advanced to the general election. At the general election, each candidate will be selected through a ranked-choice voting process and the candidate with the greatest number of votes will be 22 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE elected. For a general election, you must rank the candidates in the numerical order of your preference, ranking as many candidates as you wish. Your second, third, and subsequent ranked choices will be counted only if the candidate you ranked first does not receive enough votes to continue on to the next round of counting, so ranking a second, third, or subsequent choice will not hurt your first-choice candidate. Your ballot will be counted regardless of whether you choose to rank one, two, or more candidates for each office, but it will not be counted if you assign the same ranking to more than one candidate for the same office. *Sec. 65. AS 15.58.020(b) is amended to read: Each primary, special, or special primary election pamphlet shall contain only the information specified in and of this section for each ballot measure scheduled to appear on the primary, special, or special primary election ballot. *Sec. 66. AS 15.58.020 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: Notwithstanding of this section, if a pamphlet is prepared and published under AS 15.58.010 for a (1) primary election, the pamphlet must contain the following statement written in bold in a conspicuous location, instead of the statement provided by of this section: In each race, you may vote for any candidate listed. The four candidates who receive the most votes for a state office, United States senator, or United States representative will advance to the general election. However, if, after the primary election and 64 days or more before the general election, one of the four candidates who received the most votes for an office at the primary election dies, withdraws, resigns, is disqualified, or is certified as incapacitated, the candidate who received the fifth most votes for the office will advance to the general election. Each candidate may designate the political party or political group that the candidate is registered as affiliated with. A candidate's political party or political group designation on a ballot does not imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the party or group or that the party or group approves of or associates with that candidate,- (2) a special primary election, the pamphlet must contain the following statement written in bold in a conspicuous location, instead of the statement provided by of this section: In each race, you may vote for any candidate listed. The four candidates who receive the most votes for a state office or United States senator will advance to the special election. However, if, after the special primary election and 64 days or more before the special election, one of the four candidates who received the most votes for a state office or United States senator at the primary election dies, withdraws, resigns, is disqualified, or is certified as incapacitated, the 23 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE candidate who received the fifth most votes for the office will advance to the general election. Each candidate may designate the political party or political group that the candidate is registered as affiliated with. A candidate's political party or political group designation on a ballot does not imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the party or group or that the party or group approves of or associates with that candidate. *Sec. 67. AS 15.58.030(b) is amended to read: Not later than July 22 of a year in which a state general election will be held, an individual who becomes a candidate for the office of United States senator, United States representative, governor, lieutenant governor, state senator, or state representative under AS 15.25.030 15.25.1801 may file with the lieutenant governor a photograph and a statement advocating the candidacy. INDIVIDUAL WHO BECOMES A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF UNITED STATES SENATOR, UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE, GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, STATE SENATOR, OR STATE REPRESENTATIVE BY PARTY PETITION FILED UNDER AS 1525110 MAY FILE WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR A PHOTOGRAPH AND A STATEMENT ADVOCATING THE CANDIDACY WITHIN 10 DAYS OF BECOMING A *Sec. 68. AS 15.80.010(9) is amended to read: (9) "federal election" means a general, special, special primam or primary election held solely or in part for the purpose of selecting, nominating, or electing a candidate for the office of President, Vice-President, presidential elector, United States senator, or United States representative; *Sec. 69. AS 15.80.010(27) is amended to read: (27) "political party" means an organized group of voters that represents a political program and (A) that A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR WHO RECEIVED AT LEAST THREE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL VOTES CAST FOR GOVERNOR AT THE PRECEDING GENERAL ELECTION has registered voters in the state equal in number to at least three percent of the total votes cast for governor at the preceding general election; (B) if the office of governor was not on the ballot at the preceding general election but the office of United States senator was on that ballot, that A CANDIDATE FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR WHO RECEIVED AT LEAST THREE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL VOTES CAST FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR AT THAT GENERAL ELECTION has registered voters in the state equal in number to at least three percent of the total votes cast for United States senator at that general election; or (C) if neither the office of governor nor the office of United States senator was on the ballot at the preceding general election, that A CANDIDATE FOR UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE WHO RECEIVED AT LEAST THREE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL VOTES CAST FOR UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE AT THAT GENERAL ELECTION has registered voters in the state equal in number to at least three percent of the total votes cast for United States representative at that general election; *Sec. 70. AS 15.80.010 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 24 BETTER ELECTIONS INITIATIVE (46) "ranked-choice voting" means, in a general election, the method of casting and tabulating votes in which voters rank candidates in order of preference and in which tabulation proceeds in sequential rounds in which a candidate with a majority in the first round wins outright, or last-place candidates are defeated until there are two candidates remaining, at which point the candidate with the greatest number of votes is declared the winner of the election. *Sec. 71. AS 39.50.020Ib) is amended to read: A public official or former public official other than an elected or appointed municipal officer shall file the statement with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Candidates for the office of governor and lieutenant governor and, if the candidate is not subject to AS 24.60, the legislature shall file the statement under AS 15.25.030 15.25.180]. Municipal officers, former municipal officers, and candidates for elective municipal office, shall file with the municipal clerk or other municipal official designated to receive their filing for office. All statements required to be filed under this chapter are public records. *Sec. 72. AS 1525.014, 1525.056, 1525.110, 1525.120, 1525.130, 15.25.140, 15.25.150, 15.25.160, 15.25.170, 15.25.180, 15.25.185, 15.25.190, 15.25.200,? AS 15.40.141, 15.40.142, 15.40.150, 15.40200, 15.40210, 15.40290, 15.40300, 15.40.450, and 15.40.460 are repealed. *Sec. 73. The provisions of this act are independent and severable. If any provision of this act, or the applicability of any provision to any person or circumstance, shall be held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this act shall not be affected and shall be given effect to the fullest extent possible. *Sec. 74. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: VOTER EDUCATION AS TO CHANGES MADE TO STATE ELECTION SYSTEMS THROUGH ADOPTION OF A VOTING SYSTEM. For a period of not less than two calendar years immediately following the effective date of this Act, the director of elections shall, in a manner reasonably calculated to educate the public, inform voters of the changes made to the state's election systems in this Act. 25 r4511l 515).. \le ..A.J .