Section 15.25.014. Participation in primary election selection of a political party's candidates.

   (a) Not later than 5:00 p.m., Alaska time, on September 1 of the calendar year before the calendar year in which a primary election is to be held, a political party shall submit a notice in writing to the director stating whether the party bylaws expand or limit who may participate in the primary election for selection of the party's candidates for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices. A copy of the party's bylaws expanding or limiting who may participate in the primary election for selection of the party's candidates, documentation required under (b) of this section, and other information required by the director, must be submitted along with the notice. The notice, bylaws, documentation, and other information required by the director shall be provided by the party's chairperson or another party official designated by the party's bylaws.
   (b) Once a political party timely submits a notice and bylaws under (a) of this section and the director finds that the party has met the requirements of this chapter and other applicable laws, the director shall permit a voter registered as affiliated with another party to vote the party's ballot if the voter is permitted by the party's bylaws to participate in the selection of the party's candidates and may not permit a voter registered as nonpartisan or undeclared to vote a party's ballot if the party's bylaws restrict participation by nonpartisan or undeclared voters in the party's primary. However, for a subsequent primary election, the party shall timely submit another notice, bylaws, documentation, and other information under (a) of this section if the party's bylaws regarding who may participate in the primary election for selection of the party's candidates change.
   (c) Party bylaws required to be submitted under (a) of this section must be precleared by the United States Department of Justice under 42 U.S.C. 1973c (sec. 5, Voting Rights Act of 1965) before submission. Documentation of the preclearance must accompany the bylaws submitted under (a) of this section.

Authorities

15.25.010;15.80.008

Notes

Recent Bills that will modify this

HB 17 NONPARTISAN PRIMARY ELECTIONS

References

AS 15.25.010 Provision for primary election.
AS 15.80.008 Recognized political party status.

History

(Sec. 4 ch 103 SLA 2001)