Alaska’s top government officials are looking for a new voter registration system, one that would create an “electronic pollbook” that curbs voter fraud and attempts to take on the Left’s argument against voter ID laws.
According to the state’s Request for Proposal, issued July 24, Alaska’s Division of Elections is seeking a new statewide voter registration and election management system “that includes an electronic pollbook solution.” The system — costing $3.5 million to $5 million — would provide “real-time” updates of voter history.
Additionally, the “electronic pollbook” would indicate whether or not the voter has applied for an absentee ballot and the status of the ballot, and have the ability to display the voter’s photo, imported from the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
Voter watchdog True the Vote uncovered instances of voter fraud through absentee ballots last year, with voters casting votes in two states, New York and Florida, during the same federal election — which is a felony. Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell said the new system would cut down on the number of “questioned ballots.”
Treadwell told The Associated Press the new system would help to increase security at the polls, but stressed that voters would not be required to present photo identification at voting locations.
Alaska’s lieutenant governor has spoken out against a voter ID law, sponsored by state Rep. Bob Lynn (R-Anchorage), currently pending in the state legislature. As voter ID has been a hotly debated issue nationwide, Treadwell and state Director of the Division of Elections Gail Fenumiai both stressed a photo ID is not a requirement to vote.
“It’s my understanding that the photos from any other state agency, and with our case it would be photos available at [the Department of] Motor Vehicles, that would be able to be included in the database,” Fenumiai said on Alaska’s Radio Kenai. “But, once again, I want to stress that photo ID is not a requirement, it’s just a form of identification that can be presented when you vote.”
Alaska was one of nine states requiring a pre-clearance from the Department of Justice before enacting or amending any voting laws. But following the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder, a provision of the Voting Rights Act was overturned, thus negating the pre-clearance requirement.
As a result, a host of states — Alaska included — have newfound opportunities to pass voter ID laws.
Though those on the Left argue voter ID laws make it difficult for low-income voters to obtain an ID, Alaska’s voter system would bypass the requirement of going to get a form of identification to vote and would instead streamline the process by connecting with the DMV’s database.
According to the Request for Proposal’s timeline, the company that will be chosen by the state’s Division of Elections should start work on the new voting system Oct. 15.
