Testimony split on voter‑privacy resolution as Alaskans warn of DOJ purges and record‑access barriers

The House Judiciary Committee opened and closed public testimony on House Joint Resolution 43 (voter privacy) on March 18, taking several online testimonies. The chair said the committee would not hear the Department of Administration today and asked members to submit questions in writing.

A caller identified as Mike ***** of Wasilla testified in opposition to HJR 43, saying DOJ requests for voter information are aimed at preventing noncitizens or dead people from voting and arguing those checks also benefit election integrity. He criticized language in the resolution that, in his view, singled out Alaska Natives and said rural Alaskans could obtain vital records through postal services.

Later, when the committee reopened HJR 43, Linda Bailey of Homer urged the panel to pass HJR 43 and to adopt accompanying statutory safeguards. Bailey asked that the division of elections require the DOJ to provide “adequate and credible proof” before removing a voter and that voters receive timely notice so they can obtain vital records. She highlighted that Alaska vital‑records processing can take “six to nine weeks,” and said that women who have changed surnames by marriage or divorce could be at particular risk of being purged without time or resources to assemble documentation.

Chair Gray set an amendment deadline for HJR 43 of Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. The committee did not take final action during the hearing.

Next steps: staff will post requested legal memoranda and committee aides will coordinate how to collect members’ written questions for agencies not present at the hearing.