Government Position: STATUTORY INITIATIVE PROCESS, ALASKA’S

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STATEMENT OF POSITION

The League of Women Voters of Alaska supports the existing initiative process and makes the following recommendations:

· Initiatives should be voted on only at General Elections, not special or primary elections.

· Support change that requires simplicity and clarity of the wording of initiative questions with a “yes” vote to indicate in favor of the measure and a “no” vote to indicate opposition to the measure.

· Support disclosure on each initiative petition of the name(s) or group(s) that is paying the gatherer and how they are paid, such as by signature or by the hour.

· Support the requirement for not less than 500 qualified voters as sponsors to the prospective petition with the Lieutenant Governor's office.

· Support the requirement for a number of valid signatures not less than ten (10%) percent of the total number of the votes cast in the preceding general elections.

· Support a formula for at least 50 signatures in each of two-thirds of the legislative districts in order to reflect statewide interest in a measure.

· Support the requirement an attorney general advisory opinion as to the constitutionality of each proposed initiative after it has qualified for the ballot, such opinion to be published in the State Election Pamphlet.

· Support the existing limit on time for collecting signatures to one year.

· Support the requirement for a cost analysis to be on each initiative petition.

· Support the requirement that signature gatherers be qualified voters of Alaska.

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Adopted 2001 at Post-Convention Board Meeting

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League of Women Voters of Alaska – April 2001 - 9 -