President Trump’s new executive order to secure federal elections may have sweeping consequences for Alaska’s lenient mail-in voting system.
On March 25, the president issued new protocols titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.”
The multi-faceted order aims to exclude all mail-in ballots that are received after election day, while strengthening voter registration systems and blocking foreign nationals from casting ballots for federal elections.
States that fail to adhere to the new safeguards risk losing federal funding.
Alaska elections appear to be directly impacted by one section of the order that calls on the U.S. Justice Department to take legal action against states that count ballots which are received after Election Day.
Currently, Alaska law allows voters to cast mail-in ballots, which the states counts so long as they were postmarked – but not necessarily received – on Election Day. These ballots can arrive up to 10 days after Election Day, and 15 days if they come from overseas voters.
Trump’s order seeks to end this type of lengthy extension.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
“The Attorney General shall take all necessary action to enforce 2 U.S.C. 7 and 3 U.S.C. 1 against States that violate these provisions by including absentee or mail-in ballots received after Election Day in the final tabulation of votes for the appointment of Presidential electors and the election of members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives,” the order states.
It adds that the federal Election Assistance Commission “shall condition any available funding to a State on that State’s compliance with the requirement.”
Sen. Shelley Hughes (R-Palmer) has introduced a bill in the Alaska Legislature aimed at addressing this very issue. While it has not garnered much momentum that may change in light of Trump’s order.
Hughes’ Senate Bill 52 addresses long-standing challenges with delays in election results being available to Alaskans by introducing a requirement that all ballots, including absentee and early voting ballots, be counted by 11:59 p.m. Alaska time on election day.
“This replaces previous rules that permitted counting to extend indefinitely beyond election day,” Hughes’ sponsor statement explains. “Establishing this strict deadline ensures that election results are reported promptly, minimizing uncertainty, and enhancing voter confidence in the election process.”
Her bill also revises the early voting period, beginning 15 days prior to the election and ending on the Saturday immediately preceding election day. This adjustment provides election officials with time to count early ballots to meet the deadline requirement of 11:59 p.m.
15 Comments
GREAT for Election Integrity!
I’ve been hoping someone would care enough to look into our “fake” election integrity. Thank you!!
I would think that if you really wanted to vote in an election you’d take steps to get and return the ballot on time. The time is tge day of the election not 10-15 days later. I agree with President Trump on this one! Now I’ve been in Alaska long enough that I know getting my credit card statement before the due date is impossible. I say this, “we should try to get it back on time.” Let’s try it and see where the pit falls are and fix them.
Election integrity
it!
There is no reason this can’t be done.
the federal law was and is being broken by the division of elections in this state! WHO GIVES A CRAP IS DALHSTROMS DRUMBEAT!
Reply to the fake me: states’ rights trump federal nonsense. I’m with Duleavy, Dahlstrom, Smoldon, Bishop, etc. They have Alaska’s interests in mind. Feds don’t always.
Yes, you are with Dunleavy, and Dahlstrom ?? The same ones that refuse to answer my questions regarding the legal interpretations on the term “Statutory” , or Alaskan Constitutional interpretations of the designated PFD payments to the citizens of the state of Alaska.. I already know what the “law” says, but, I wanted to get their scripted response, and after three separate requests for their answers/positions.. Nada .. No answers.. No direct responses.. They do know what the state law is, but refuse to take a written stand..
A great win for Truth!
End mail in voting and this is not an issue. The people in office do not want to fix our “elections” or most wouldn’t be in office.
We call it election day for a reason. the ability to continually harvest and count votes indefinitely after election day destroys the integrity of the entire election process. only those consumed by corruption would want or need votes to be counted as election months far past the actual day of election. if one knows they’ll be out of town or unavailable to vote on election day it is not hard to figure out the date when they need to send in their absentee or *mail in ballot* (sic) in time to be counted on election day.
Do I hear taps in the background for Democrat party?
Why, Steve – yes, I think you do! USAID to elections for Democrats is over. The grift & graft are over. They’ll be broke inside of 2 years.
The President has no legal authority to withhold funds from a state like Alaska, which has statutes saying that ballots postmarked the day of the election but received later should be counted.
So following a statute that was allegedly passed, just by a hair, and with millions of outside dark leftist dollars is your argument Mark? Just admit that that you prefer corruption. 108% voter registration, hacked voter roles, fifteen days past election to “count” votes. Where’s the Tshibaka report Dunleavy and Dhalstrom?