Grade TL;DR

Alaska has not passed any substantial election-related legislation over the past two years. Although the Legislature attempted to pass bipartisan-supported election reforms, time ran out before legislation could be passed. Due to the lack of movement, Alaska received a B on this year’s progress report.

Looking Back

Where Alaska Started in 2020

• Automatic Voter Registration: Back-End
• Online Voter Registration: DMV ID
• Same-Day Registration: Yes (presidential race only)
• Restoration of Rights: Parole and/or Probation Disenfranchisement
• Vote by Mail: No-Excuse
• Electronic Registration Information Center Member: Yes
• Early Voting Opportunities: In-Person Absentee/Regular
• Ballot Early Voting
• ID Requirements: ID Requested, but not Required

Relying on the Cost of Voting Index for Alaska as of 2020, we considered the state a bottom tier state for pre-existing voting policy and compared its 2021-22 activity against other bottom tier states.

How Our Tier Compares:

• COVI (2020): 36th
• EPI Score (2020): 14th
• CLC State Scorecard (2022): 7/10
• MAP Democracy Rating (2022): MEDIUM

2021: Two Years Ago

Legislative Action

The Alaska Legislature did not pass any election-related laws during the 2021 session.

2022: This Past Year

Legislative Action

• The Alaska Legislature did not pass any election-related laws during the 2022 session. Lack of meaningful progress on election reforms in 2021, made it seem as though passage of a compromise omnibus election reform bill could have been possible in 2022. Though a compromise election bill was drafted, unfortunately, time ran out on the session before the legislation could be passed. Here’s what the bill included:
  • Improved list maintenance procedures
  • Watermarks or other identifiers on ballots
  • Expansion of same-day registration beyond presidential elections
  • Chain of custody procedures for mail ballots
  • Postage prepaid envelopes for mail ballots
  • Ballot tracking and cure procedures for mail ballots
  • Risk-limiting audit procedures for elections
  • Use of open-source technology for elections