Alex Koplin is a founding member of Kenai Peninsula Votes. (courtesy photo)

Alex Koplin is a founding member of Kenai Peninsula Votes. (courtesy photo)

Voices of the Peninsula: Meet in the middle on voting reform

Wouldn’t it be great to have a voting bill that makes voting easier, more secure and one that all parties could possibly agree on?

  • Monday, April 5, 2021 8:45pm
  • Opinion

By Alex Koplin

Voting legislation has drawn lots of attention these days.

There is very little chance that any election/voting bills will pass this year in Juneau. The House and the Senate are leaning in opposite directions.

However, Kenai Peninsula Votes (KPV) thinks this is a good thing because a pause for any voting bill might defuse some of the tension we are currently feeling about voting.

Our organization would like to see any voting bills coming out of Juneau have bipartisan support. In Kentucky, a voting bill was passed by both Houses, with major bipartisan support, and now is just waiting for the governor’s signature.

Senate Bill (SB) 39, referred to as the election integrity bill, has been the most talked about election bill to date in our state. It is sponsored by Sen. Mike Shower. Currently, SB 39 is being “marked up,” and likely will look different than its original format presented back in January.

One senator said over a Zoom meeting that he thinks some of these changes can be attributed to the written testimony that has been received on the bill. (Yes, your voice does matter.)

While listening to SB 39 testimony, a new voting option was introduced. Chris Miller came as a private citizen to testify about how voting online can one day be a reality. Mr. Miller works for Oracle. (He made it clear that Oracle was not part of his presentation, but it gave credence to his expertise in working with computer security and his extensive background in using technology safely and easily.)

KPV is a proponent of online voting. We were impressed with Mr. Miller’s presentation and you can go online to watch it. (His testimony begins 42 minutes into the video)

We all realize that voting securely on the internet can be tricky to say the least. For example, Alaska’s Division of Elections voter registration was hacked last year and reports of hacking very secure systems do happen. However, secure online voting is an idea that could be used for voting in three to five years.

Indeed, many of us use the internet daily for so many things: from applying for our PFD, to banking, to doing our taxes and paying our bills. Online voting has the potential to make voting easier and more accessible, and as a result, more voters will vote.

Our group was pleasantly surprised to see that Sen. Shower had looked at this online option for voting. Wouldn’t it be great to have a voting bill that makes voting easier, more secure and one that all parties could possibly agree on?

During the pandemic, many of the voting procedures were streamlined to allow easier access to voting, which did not result in any voter fraud.

Remember every vote matters.

Alex Koplin is a founding member of Kenai Peninsula Votes.

More in Opinion

A cherished "jolly Santa head" ornament from the Baisden Christmas tree. (Photo provided)
Opinion: Reflections of holidays past

Our family tradition has been to put up our Christmas tree post-Thanksgiving giving a clear separation of the holidays

Screenshot. (https://dps.alaska.gov/ast/vpso/home)
Opinion: Strengthening Alaska’s public safety: Recent growth in the VPSO program

The number of VPSOs working in our remote communities has grown to 79

Soldotna City Council member Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings participates in the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL candidate forum series, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Opinion: I’m a Soldotna Republican and will vote No on 2

Open primaries and ranked choice voting offer a way to put power back into the hands of voters, where it belongs

Nick Begich III campaign materials sit on tables ahead of a May 16, 2022, GOP debate held in Juneau. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: North to a Brighter Future

The policies championed by the Biden/Harris Administration and their allies in Congress have made it harder for us to live the Alaskan way of life

Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Opinion: Vote yes to retain Judge Zeman and all judges on your ballot

Alaska’s state judges should never be chosen or rejected based on partisan political agendas

A vintage Underwood typewriter sits on a table on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at the Homer News in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Point of View: District 6 needs to return to representation before Vance

Since Vance’s election she has closely aligned herself with the far-right representatives from Mat-Su and Gov. Mike Dunleavy

The Anchor River flows in the Anchor Point State Recreation Area on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Opinion: Help ensure Alaskans have rights to use, enjoy and care for rivers

It is discouraging to see the Department of Natural Resources seemingly on track to erode the public’s ability to protect vital water interests.

A sign directing voters to the Alaska Division of Elections polling place is seen in Kenai, Alaska, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Vote no on Ballot Measure 2

A yes vote would return Alaska to party controlled closed primaries and general elections in which the candidate need not win an outright majority to be elected.

Derrick Green (Courtesy photo)
Opinion: Ballot Measure 1 will help businesses and communities thrive

It would not be good for the health and safety of my staff, my customers, or my family if workers are too worried about missing pay to stay home when they are sick.

A sign warns of the presence of endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales at the Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, July 10, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Opinion: Could an unnecessary gold mine drive Cook Inlet belugas extinct?

An industrial port for the proposed Johnson Tract gold mine could decimate the bay