NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON PAYMENT OF ELECTION OFFICIALS

IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DIVISION OF ELECTIONS

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

The Division of Elections proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 6, Chapter 25 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with payment of election officials. All changes are within 6 AAC 25.035. Amendments to existing subsections include:

1)         a pay increase for election board workers, board chairpersons, absentee voting officials, and absentee voting station officials;

2)         an increase in compensation for time spent at election duties by absentee voting officials at absentee stations;

3)         removing references to unnecessary positions;

4)         repealing a subsection related to municipal employees providing absentee voting services.

This proposal would also add a new subsection to 6 AAC 25.035 that would include payment for extra election day and election night workers and payment for write-in counting team members.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Brian Jackson, PO Box 110017, Juneau, Alaska 99811-0017. Additionally, the Division of Elections will accept comments by facsimile at 907-465-3203 and by electronic mail at elections@alaska.gov.  Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System by accessing this notice on the system and using the comment link. The comments must be received not later than 4:30 p.m. on January 21, 2020.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Brian Jackson at brian.jackson@alaska.gov at 240 Main St. Suite 400, Juneau, Alaska 99801. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Division of Elections will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and agency website.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Brian Jackson at brian.jackson@alaska.gov or by calling 907-465-4611 not later than Tuesday, January 7, 2020 to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided.

After the public comment period ends, the Division of Elections will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. YOU SHOULD COMMENT DURING THE TIME ALLOWED IF YOUR INTERESTS COULD BE AFFECTED.

Statutory authority: AS 15.15.010

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 15.01.100; AS 15.15.030; AS 15.20.190; AS 15.10.110; AS 15.15.380; AS 15.20.220; AS 15.15.010; AS 15.15.390; AS 15.20.900

Fiscal information: It is estimated that the proposed regulation changes will require increased appropriations as follows: FY 21, 392.2; FY 22, 196.1; FY 23, 196.1.

The Division of Elections keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all of the Division of Elections notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Division of Elections at elections@alaska.gov, giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.

Date:   December 17, 2019

/s/

Gail Fenumiai, Director, Division of Elections