Senate Bill 64, a contentious piece of legislation aimed at eroding the integrity of Alaska’s election laws, failed to advance out of the House Finance Committee this session following strong public outcry and unified resistance from House Republicans.
The bill, championed by Senate Democrats, faced intense scrutiny during a flurry of legislative activity in recent weeks. Alaskans from across the state submitted public testimony, written comments, and direct appeals to lawmakers, expressing concerns that the bill’s provisions would diminish — not enhance — election security in a state that already has a reputation for lax election security.
Among the most debated elements of SB 64 were proposals to eliminate the witness signature requirement for absentee ballots, create a permanent absentee voter list, expand ballot collection and harvesting practices, and authorize widespread use of unsecured ballot drop boxes.
House Republicans argued that these measures would significantly weaken existing safeguards designed to ensure voter identity and ballot integrity.
“Election integrity is a very real issue,” said Rep. DeLena Johnson of Palmer. “Judging from the number of Alaskans making their voices heard over the past several days, this issue needs much further assessment and better solutions than SB 64 can provide.”
Rep. Jamie Allard of Eagle River offered a sharp rebuke of the bill: “This bill greases the skids for all mail-in elections like Anchorage has. SB 64 is the biggest hoax that the Democrats have promulgated so far this year — and that is saying a lot since there are some other bills that are contenders.”
Critics also emphasized the rushed timeline of the legislation.
“Rushing a nonpartisan bill through at the last minute isn’t how the legislative process is meant to work,” said Rep. Frank Tomaszewski of Fairbanks. “I’m glad we’ll have the chance to take a closer look at SB 64 next year.”
Beyond procedural concerns, opponents also saw the bill as a partisan attempt to institutionalize policies that would benefit one side of the aisle.
“Instead of focusing on commonsense improvements that both sides could support, Democrats insisted on packing the bill with their full wish list—including permanent vote-by-mail, unlimited ballot drop boxes, and the elimination of witness signatures,” said Rep. Sarah Vance of Homer.
Longtime political figure and election expert Randy Ruedrich also submitted a formal statement to the House Finance Committee on May 15, warning that SB 64 lays the groundwork for statewide mail-in voting systems similar to those already adopted by the Municipality of Anchorage, a point made by Rep. Allard as well.
“Mail-in voting has been found to create significant voter fraud in other states,” Ruedrich stated. “The bill would establish permanent absentee-by-mail ballot distribution, which sends an absentee ballot to a voter’s old temporary address. As long as these ballots are returned, the state must continue sending ballots to that address — potentially to unauthorized agents.”
He also highlighted the removal of the witness signature requirement as a dangerous step.
“The witness signature affirms the identity of the voter,” he said. “Democrats say the witness signature is inconvenient. Well, so are voter ID, voter registration, and voting itself.”
Ruedrich further criticized the bill’s impact on military voters and other Alaskans temporarily out of state, arguing that SB 64 would “destroy the Alaska right to vote” for those who can’t return to their prior physical residences, such as military personnel or students.
“This Democrat ploy will eliminate our registered enlisted personnel who have viewed Alaska as their only home during decades-long military careers,” he said.
While the bill is now effectively on hold, House Republicans have emphasized their commitment to secure and transparent elections. The Republican caucus pledged to continue working on election reform measures that have broad public support and that maintain voter trust.
The bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Bill Wielechowski of Anchorage, will push the bill forward in 2026, but has lost his quest to enact the fraud-enhancement changes to Alaska’s election laws prior to the 2026 election.
First I have heard of this where did they hide this scam? I would be nice and legal before they vote on it to bring it out to the public for our input.
Veracity–SB 64 was first introduced on January 24, 2025. ‘https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=SB%20%2064
What? The legislature actually did something … right?
One vote, in person, with identification. purple finger ink to show and prevent fraud. Period.
O, forgot. single day allocated for voting, no extensions or exceptions.
Shut ins. addressed by witness agent(s).
Very glad to read that this didn’t pass.
Voter ID required, Proof of physical residency, real people counting votes, no mail in period. Obviously that is where the DemoRats like to steal votes.
As far as the villages go? Come to town to vote or you will not be counted. It’s time to stop what we know is the problem. Mishandling of our voting results has Alaskans not knowing the results for weeks when it should be a few days. It’s dumb to keep on the path we have been on… Need to go back to basics!
Your right but it shouldn’t take a few days to count. ONE DAY Voting! That same day the Count. Not holding votes for this or that – One Day! We have less than a million votes to count and we can’t get it done in a day? I guess we just haven’t producing accurate voting results all these years before we opened voting up to be a year-round project. Wake up people – you are being led to the slaughter!
Everyone I know questions the legitimacy of our elections. This bill is no good. As far as I’m concerned we can go back to hand counted paper ballots.
Paper ballots, it’s the most secure way to maintain integrity in an election.
Electronic – already proven the deep state uses it to “manipulate” elections.
Democrats started as and always will be made up of violent, criminal, greedy, lazy, immoral, putrid, and perverted human scum.
Legal election fraud is still ………
Election Fraud.
Rep. Tomaszewski, there is NO need to look at this bill again in 2026. Every state that has implemented all mail in ballots, drop boxes everywhere, and no witness signatures needed has turned DEEP BLUE within 10 years or less of implementation. The Democrats know this is their key to forever winning elections and turning another red state blue. Republicans better wake up to this fact by not even “considering” this bill when it is hauled out again.
This 100% misdirection. The real question is what they are trying to hide. There is lot more dems to work on misdirection while others work on something else. It makes it harder for the republicans to keep up.
??? How do the democrats have the chutzpah to introduce and promote such fraud???
2020 elections were Stolen!! Get rid of Mail In voting, Dominion voting machines and rank choice voting. Get rid of Non profit organization
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