Alaskans pride themselves on fair elections, common sense, and minding our own business. That’s why a new ballot initiative backed by Lower 48 money should raise red flags for everyone — regardless of party.
A billionaire donor from Wisconsin has poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into a petition campaign in Alaska to change a single word in state law about who can vote. Not to solve a real problem — but to manufacture one.
The Law Already Works
Current Alaska law clearly states that US citizenship is required to vote in state elections. There is no evidence of widespread noncitizen voting in Alaska.
Even Alaska’s Republican Attorney General has acknowledged that this proposed change would not alter who is legally allowed to vote.
So if nothing is broken — why try to “fix” it?
What These Ballot Measures Are Really About
Initiatives like this aren’t designed to improve election security. They are designed to create fear and confusion.
Across the country, similar measures have been used to:
- Undermine trust in election outcomes
- Spread misinformation about voting
- Stoke anti-immigrant sentiment
- Drive turnout through manufactured outrage
When voters see a question like this on the ballot, it sends a false signal that a serious problem exists — even when it doesn’t.
This effort is being bankrolled by a Wisconsin billionaire who is using Alaska as a testing ground for further initiatives in the Lower 48.
That’s not “protecting elections.” That’s importing national political games into our state.
Our Elections Should Belong to Alaskans
Alaska’s elections work because Alaskans run them, not because some outside money tells us what to fear. We should be focused on expanding participation, protecting access, and making sure every eligible Alaskan can vote—not chasing imaginary threats pushed by dark-money groups.
Fear-based politics doesn’t make our elections safer. Facts do.
The Alaska Democratic Party will continue standing up for election integrity rooted in reality — not misinformation funded by outsider billionaires who don’t understand or respect our state.
