In order to ensure greater public confidence in local elections, Kenai Borough Assemblyman Jesse Bjorkman has introduced an ordinance, which is up for a public hearing on June 15. It addresses multiple issues regarding election integrity.

The main changes include the following provisions:

• When polling places close, results will be announced at the polling location.
• The results tape, along with all election equipment and materials will then be transported by two members of the election board to the election supervisor (the borough clerk).
• New provisions to ensure the security of election equipment.
• New chain of custody procedures to track the movement of voting equipment.
• Ballot tabulators (used to count ballots) will undergo public testing prior to elections.
• New chain of custody protocols to track the transportation and receipt of ballots.
• Updated procedures for questioned or unaccounted ballots.
• Updated procedures for candidates who wish to appoint poll watchers.
• Requirements to provide a list of officials recognized to attest to signature verification on absentee ballots.
• Establishing that at least one of three unique pieces of personal identification data shall be required for absentee ballots. These include a voter’s voter identification number, date of birth, and last four digits of the voter’s social security number.
• A new subsection is added to address suspected voter fraud, misconduct and/or plural voting.

TAKING ACTION

• Click here to read the ordinance.
• The meeting will be held in-person and via Zoom. The Zoom ID is 938 6524 5999 (Passcode: 886199).
• The in-person meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the Assembly Chambers at the Borough Administration Building in Soldotna.
• Click here to contact members of the Kenai Borough Assembly.
• For further information, call the clerk’s office at 714-2160 or toll free within the Borough at 1-800-478-4441, Ext. 2160. Additional information is online at www.kpb.us.

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