What others say: Alaska must close voting loophole

  • Wednesday, November 12, 2014 5:02pm
  • Opinion

Alaska has a voting loophole big enough to cause problems. State officials and members of the Legislature must close it to safeguard our electoral process.

The problem is this: You don’t have to physically live here to vote here.

To be clear, we’re not talking about snowbirds who migrate south each winter and then return, students studying Outside or military personnel who are deployed overseas or transferred to a new assignment.

No, this is something different. According to voter registration requirements, someone can become an Alaska voter after just 30 days. If they move elsewhere, have the “intent” to return and don’t register to vote elsewhere, they may continue voting in Alaska elections. Forever.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Our state has stricter regulations for who gets a Permanent Fund Dividend than for voting.

Residents who permanently move to another state are no longer residents. They don’t pay local taxes or volunteer with local groups, and they are far more likely to be uninformed about local and statewide issues than those who physically live here.

In Washington, a voter must be a resident of the state for at least 30 days before the election. In Oregon, current residency also is required. Alaska’s voter requirements appear unique, but not in a good way.

Outside groups are willing to spend tens of millions of dollars to sway our elections. Tens of thousands of voters mail in ballots each year. Statewide races can be swung by just a few thousand votes. These are the ingredients for manipulation — even if no one has yet used the recipe and we don’t think it will be used, the threat is there.

Regardless of this loophole’s ability to influence elections, it simply isn’t right. It reduces the ability of local people to affect local issues.

We don’t know where the ballots are coming from, how long some voters have been absent from the state, or whether an Outside interest group is willing to abuse Alaska’s voting loophole to decide an election. We’d rather not find out.

Alaska should align its voter eligibility requirements to follow its PFD requirements. Those who don’t spend enough time in Alaska to qualify will still have the right to vote, it just won’t be here. The rest of us who have a stake in the outcome should be the ones to decide.

— Juneau Empire

Nov. 9

More in Opinion

The KBBI AM 890 station is located on Kachemak Way in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Opinion: Alaska’s public media is under threat. Together, we can save it.

If nothing is done, the lost funding will result in the complete loss of broadcast signals in remote communities.

.
My Turn: Our country requires leadership

An open letter to Alaska’s congressional delegation

Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress fourth grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Opinion: Additional school funding is all about counting to 45

If education supporters can get to 45 votes, they would override the veto and the governor would have no choice but to send out the checks.

Alaska Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, left, talks with House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, a Dillingham independent, before Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s State of the State speech on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: Legislature has a constitutional duty to address Dunleavy vetoes

If we do not act during this special session, the vetoes will become permanent

Rep. Bill Elam speaks during a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Opinion: Education accountability starts at home — not just in Juneau

Hyper-partisan politics don’t belong in classrooms.

The Alaska Capitol is photographed Friday, July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)
Opinion: Schools and strength in challenging times

We must stand in defense of the institution of public schools.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, speaks during a news conference in April 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Opinion: Anti-everything governor

Nothing wrong with being an obstinate contrarian, unless you would rather learn, build consensus, truly govern and get something done.

Children are photographed outside their now shuttered school, Pearl Creek Elementary, in August 2024 in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo provided by Morgan Dulian)
My Turn: Reform doesn’t start with cuts

Legislators must hold the line for Alaska’s students

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to Anchor Point residents during a community meeting held at the Virl “Pa” Haga VFW Post 10221 on Friday, May 30, 2025, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Opinion: Big beautiful wins for Alaska in the Big Beautiful Bill

The legislation contains numerous provisions to unleash Alaska’s extraordinary resource economy.

Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development, discusses the status of school districts’ finances during a press conference with Gov. Mike Dunleavy at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Opinion: The fight to improve public education has just begun

We owe our children more than what the system is currently offering

President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia at a joint news conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018. (Doug Mills/The New York Times file photo)
Opinion: Mistaking flattery for respect

Flattery played a role in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: Life is harder when you outlive your support group

Long-time friends are more important than ever to help us cope, to remind us we are not alone and that others feel the same way.

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in