The Haines Borough Assembly will consider changes to election procedures aimed at resolving questions about candidate qualifications before – instead of after – elections, at a first public hearing Tuesday.
They also clarify voter eligibility and write-in campaigns. The assembly introduced the ordinance Oct. 26.
“Right now, I guess, is the time to clarify ‘resident,’ right?” asked member Scott Rossman.
His question referred to the assembly’s 4-2 vote earlier that meeting to certify the election of Greg Goodman to the assembly in the face of a challenge from write-in candidate Karen Hess that Goodman did not meet residency requirements.
The assembly discussed Goodman’s eligibility Oct. 26, and borough attorney Brooks Chandler referenced a borough requirement that candidates must have “resided continuously within the borough for a period of at least one year immediately preceding the election.”
A draft of the proposed ordinance states borough candidates “must have been a resident of the borough for a continuous period of not less than one year immediately preceding the date of the election.”
An addition is that a candidate “must provide sufficient proof that the candidate is qualified, or shall be qualified by the date of the election, to be nominated as a candidate for any election.”
Borough clerk Julie Cozzi said the proposed changes are aimed at avoiding an after-the-fact contest of candidacy. Under existing borough law, such questions can be addressed only by contesting election results.
Extending the candidacy filing period to 87 days from 65 also would allow time to rule on candidacies and time to appeal such decisions, Cozzi said.
Goodman defeated Hess in the Oct. 5 election, 575-456, and the challenge to his candidacy was submitted soon after that vote.
Member Jerry Lapp said he would like stricter standards for voters, as well. “People can come here for 30 days and vote, move someplace else, register to vote there, be there 30 days and vote, and it just doesn’t seem like that’s right.”
Lapp said voters should have to meet a six-month residency requirement.
Member Steve Vick suggested a compromise of 90 days, but Chandler said he would have to look into whether the state allows that kind of hurdle.
“There’s two different things here you talk about – one is the qualification to vote and the other one is the qualification to hold elective office,” Chandler said. “There’s no question that the one year is completely legitimate for holding elective office.”
Member Joanne Waterman said the 30-day requirement was included in the borough charter, under “qualifications of voters.”
“To vote in any borough election, a person must be registered to vote in Alaska state elections at a resident’s address within the Haines Borough at least 30 days before the election in which the person seeks to vote,” Waterman read from the charter. “The voter must reside in the district in which he seeks to vote.”
Vick said he would like the ordinance to address how misspellings should be handled for write-in campaigns.
Chandler said state regulations for write-ins were “about to become very clear,” due to Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s campaign.
“They’ve already made quite clear that perfect spelling is not required,” Chandler said. “The standard they’re going to be using when counting the write-in votes for Senate is, ‘Do we believe we know the voters’ intent?’”
Voter intent was key for member Daymond Hoffman’s successful write-in campaign, when a few voters cast their ballots for “Hoffman” or “D. Hoffman.”