Ballot initiative not done yet

A ballot initiative proposing a law to make it easier for Alaskans to register to vote isn’t officially on the fall primary election ballot — yet.

On Thursday, Josephine Bahnke, director of the Alaska Division of Elections, clarified that figures posted Monday on the division’s website were preliminary and not yet finalized.

Bahnke said the division intends to complete the counting and verification of signatures for the PFD Voter Registration initiative by the first week of March, then submit the verification to Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, who must certify the initiative as complete before it makes the Aug. 16 primary election.

The initiative in question proposes allowing Alaskans to register to vote or update their voter registration through a simple Web form that appears alongside the annual Permanent Fund Dividend application online. By clicking a check box, each PFD applicant may allow the state’s dividend division to share his or her information with the Division of Elections, automatically registering that applicant to vote.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of April 13

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Saturday, April 19, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Friday, April 18, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Thursday, April 17, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Aleijah Fulmer, 6, deposits the plastic shells of eggs in a basket after removing the candy inside during the Molly of Denali EGG-Stravaganza at the University of Alaska Southeast on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire) (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
UAS celebrates ‘Molly of Denali’ Emmy win with watch party and Easter egg hunt

Award for Native language instructor who wrote episode gives university a reason to resurrect egg event.

Tina Martin, left and her daughter, Isabelle, 17, clean trash from a stream along Back Loop Road on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Carcasses, recliners and butts all part of a bustling annual Juneau spring cleaning

Cleanups throughout town include newcomers and those participating for decades.

The Norwegian Bliss docks downtown on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau’s leaders to discuss city’s long-term future, cruise industry in series of public meetings

Four sessions on CBJ’s 20-year plan on Tuesday and Wednesday; Assembly and cruise leaders meet Thursday.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy and other state of Alaska officials pose for a photo with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, center, and other government officials during Dunleavy’s trip to Taiwan last month. (Taiwan Office of the President photo)
Alaska’s governor flew to Taiwan to sell LNG. China’s not happy.

China says Dunleavy’s trip “sends a very wrong signal to the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.”

A polar bear is spotted on a multiyear ice floe in the Beaufort Sea on Aug. 13, 2023. The Trump administration is planning to designate a new “High Arctic” region off Alaska for offshore oil and gas leasing. (Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Scott Bice/U.S. Coast Guard)
Trump administration plans offshore oil leasing in Alaska’s ‘High Arctic’

Multiyear program will include a reconfigured Arctic area where future lease sales will be held.

Most Read