Sponsor Statement for HB 112

03-12-97

HB 112 would expand the definition of a political party. It would allow a political party to choose its method of qualification: (1) receive three percent of the vote in the preceding gubernatorial election; or (2) have registered voters in the state equal in number to at least three percent of the votes cast for governor at the preceding general election. A political party with approximately 6500 registered voters would not have to run a candidate for governor every four years to retain status as a political party.

To be recognized as a political party under current Alaskan law, a political party must nominate a candidate for governor every four years. The candidate must receive at least three percent of the total votes cast for governor in the general election. Political parties should not have to enter Alaska’s gubernatorial race just to qualify as a political party.

In the 1990 gubernatorial election, the governor was elected by 38.8% percent of the voters. In the 1994 gubernatorial election, the governor was elected by 41.1% percent of the voters. HB 112 would result in a Alaska’s governors being elected by a larger plurality and hopefully a majority of Alaskan voters.