By Josh Church, 2026 Candidate for Lt. Governor
As a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, I have immersed myself in our state’s election laws. What I have found is sobering: our system relies far too heavily on trust rather than verification. A utility bill as acceptable proof of identity at the polls? That is not security; it is an invitation to doubt. Elections are the cornerstone of our representative democracy— the mechanism by which citizens lay claim to self-government. When we fail to verify citizenship, eligibility, identity, or prevent multiple voting, we replace the rule of law with an honor system. And in a society where not everyone is honorable, that is dangerous.
Senator Lisa Murkowski has positioned herself against the SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act), claiming she supports voter ID in principle but opposes the bill because of its supposed burdens on Alaska, particularly our rural and Native communities. She argues it would disenfranchise lawful voters due to difficulties obtaining documents like passports or birth certificates in remote areas. This stance is not only wrong; it is dangerous and untruthful in its framing.
First, Murkowski’s position misrepresents the core issue. The right to vote belongs exclusively to American citizens. That is not a radical idea— it is the law. Yet non-citizen voting (even if rare in isolated cases) undermines the integrity of every legitimate ballot. The SAVE Act requires documentary proof of citizenship for federal elections, closing loopholes that attestation alone cannot reliably seal. Relying on self-attestation or weak secondary documents like utility bills creates opportunities for abuse. A utility bill proves nothing about citizenship or even unique identity; it is a utility statement, not a safeguard. Alaskans deserve better than an “honor system” for our most fundamental right.
Second, the claim that strong standards inevitably disenfranchise rural voters is a false choice. I reject it outright. As Lieutenant Governor, I will work relentlessly to accommodate lawful voters across our vast state— through mobile registration units, expanded outreach in villages, partnerships with tribal organizations, and practical accommodations for obtaining necessary documents. Standards and access are not mutually exclusive. We can, and must, have both. Other states with rural challenges manage secure elections without defaulting to the weakest common denominator. Alaska can too. Suggesting otherwise patronizes our residents and implies they cannot meet basic eligibility standards that citizens in every other state navigate.
Murkowski acknowledges the importance of election integrity and voter ID yet opposes legislation that would enforce it more rigorously at the federal level. This selective support— backing the concept while blocking meaningful implementation— erodes public confidence. When citizens see elected officials treating election security as optional or secondary to convenience, cynicism grows. That cynicism is the real threat to democracy, not requirements that ensure only eligible voters participate.
Our current system in Alaska already allows flexible IDs, including utility bills, bank statements, or even vouching by election officials in some cases. While this flexibility aims to include everyone, it sacrifices assurance. We can modernize and strengthen verification— citizenship checks, robust identity confirmation, safeguards against double voting— without imposing undue burdens. Technology, outreach, and state resources can bridge gaps for rural Alaskans. The alternative is perpetual vulnerability.
Elections are not a spectator sport or a casual exercise. They are how we consent to be governed. Weak verification turns that consent into a gamble. Senator Murkowski’s opposition to the SAVE Act prioritizes potential implementation hurdles over the foundational principle that only citizens should decide our elections. That is a profound error.
As your next Lieutenant Governor, I will champion election integrity with clear standards, aggressive accommodation for lawful voters, and zero tolerance for excuses that weaken our democracy. Alaskans— from Anchorage to the Bush— deserve elections they can trust. Representative government demands nothing less. We must reject the honor system and build one worthy of the people it serves.
This op-ed was voluntarily submitted by Josh Church and not solicited by Must Read Alaska. All candidates running for elected office are welcome and encouraged to submit articles for publication. Must Read Alaska unequivocally supports the election of a conservative candidate to the Office of Governor but does not endorse a particular candidate.
