By SUZANNE DOWNING
March 17, 2026 – Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom announced Tuesday that a ballot initiative aimed at clarifying Alaska’s voter eligibility statute has been properly filed, clearing the way for it to appear before voters later this year.
The measure, Petition 25USCV (U.S. Citizen Voting), would amend Alaska statute to explicitly state that only individuals who meet all listed qualifications, including being a United States citizen, are permitted to vote in Alaska elections.
According to the lieutenant governor’s office, the initiative does not change existing law. Alaska law and the state constitution already limit voting to US citizens, but the proposal would reinforce that requirement in statute by revising AS 15.05.010, the state’s voter qualification law. Current statutory language is vague, using the word “may” vote, rather than making it definitive.
After reviewing the petition, the Alaska Division of Elections confirmed that sponsors met all legal requirements. A total of 34,944 qualified signatures were verified across 40 Alaska Stat House districts, exceeding the threshold of 34,098 signatures from at least 30 districts.
With certification complete, the measure is expected to appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot, unless the Legislature passes substantially similar legislation beforehand or adjourns early enough to shift the timeline.
Dahlstrom emphasized the procedural milestone, noting that the certification ensures the measure now advances to voters for consideration.
Supporters of the initiative say the effort is focused on eliminating any ambiguity in current law.
“This certification marks a major step toward giving voters a direct voice on an issue that affects our communities every day. Putting the initiative on the November ballot ensures Alaskans can weigh in,” said former Fairbanks Sen. John Coghill.
“This initiative is about making sure there is no confusion about who is eligible to vote in Alaska,” said former Anchorage Rep. Mike Chenault. “Now that it’s headed to the ballot, voters will be able to clarify state statute so that it is crystal clear that someone must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible to vote in state and local elections in Alaska.”
Former Anchorage Sen. Josh Revak framed the issue in terms of citizenship and civic participation.
“As a veteran and the husband of an immigrant who became a U.S. citizen, I believe we must protect the value of citizenship, and that is exactly what this ballot initiative will do,” Revak said.
Backers of the measure argue that current statutory language, which states that qualified individuals “may vote,” leaves too much room for interpretation in these times when lawyers find every loophole possible.
