Senate Bill 24 "An Act providing special absentee ballots for voters in remote areas"
Click for PDF: http://www.akdemocrats.org/sponsor/SB024_ss_sen_lincoln.pdfSB 24 offers a voter living in a remote location the opportunity to vote using the 60-day special advance absentee ballot. In current statute, only voters living, working or traveling outside of the United States are eligible for a 60-day special advance absentee ballot. However, voters living in extremely remote areas are sometimes disenfranchised by conditions beyond their control. Distance, terrain and natural conditions have prevented voters from receiving by-mail ballots or reaching a polling place. SB 24 will dramatically increase the window of opportunity to vote.
Voters in urban areas have multiple voting options, including voting in person or at absentee voting stations at university campuses and airports. However, most voters in remote areas of the state can only vote by mail. The Division of Elections mails absentee ballots approximately 14 to 15 days before each election. If a remote voter's mail does not reach them in time, or they cannot reach a post office, they are unable to participate in the election.
Voting is the fundamental method citizens utilize to participate in our democracy. The health of our democracy rests on the participation of every Alaskan. While some may take that right for granted, there are others who listen in frustration as the election returns come in over the radio, hindered by factors beyond their control from making their vote count.
SB 24 assists Alaskan voters in remote areas of the state to exercise their right to vote. The Division of Elections already distributes the 60-day special advanced absentee ballot to voters outside of the U.S., and the remote voters who would benefit from this bill are uniquely identified within their voter registration system. This legislation will not be difficult to implement and will address the concerns of the public interest litigants who have filed suit against the state in order to obtain special advance absentee ballots.