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Alaska's History of Ballot Issues and Petitions
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Constitutional Amendments
Constitutional Amendments On Alaska's Ballots
Updated October 7, 2003
| ELECTION DATE | TITLE AND BALLOT LANGUAGE | VOTES
FOR | VOTES
AGAINST |
|---|
| Aug. 23,1966 | SJR 1 - Residence Requirement to Vote for President
This proposition would amend that section of the State Constitution specifying
that one must be a resident of the state for one year in order to be eligible
to vote; the amendment would permit the legislature to shorten this residence
requirement for persons in Alaska wishing to vote only for President and Vice
President of the United States. Such voters would not be permitted to
vote for candidates for state office or the U.S. Congress. |
36,667 | 12,383 |
| Aug. 27,1968 | HJR 74 - Judicial Qualifications, Commission and Remedial Powers
This provision repeals the present constitutional section providing for
retirement of incapacitated justices and judges on recommendation of the
judicial council and establishes a commission on judicial qualifications
consisting of one supreme court justice, three superior court judges,
one district court judge, two attorneys who have practiced in Alaska
for ten years and two lay members. The powers and duties of the
commission and the grounds for remedial action against justices and
judges shall be established by law. The existing impeachment section is
supplemented by provision for the disqualification, suspension, removal
from office, retirement or censure of justices and judges. | 32,481 | 12,823 |
| Aug. 27,1968 | HJR 74 - Compensation of Judicial Qualifications Commission
This proposition would amend that section of the State Constsitution
specifying that justices, judges and members of the judicial council
shall receive compensation as prescribed by law; the amendment would permit
the legislature to establish the compensation of members of the commission
on judicial qualifications by statute in addition to that of the other
designated individuals. | 27,156 | 17,467 |
| Aug. 25,1970 | HJR 7 - Establishing Voting Age at 18 years
This provision amends Article V of the State Constitution which provides
for a voting age of nineteen years. The amendment would permit persons
eighteen years of age, or older, to vote in any state or local election. |
36,590 | 31,216 |
| Aug. 25,1970 | HJR 51 am S - English Eliminated as Requisite for Voting
This provision amends Article V of the State Constitution by omitting the
requirement that a person otherwise qualified to vote in state or local
elections be able to read or speak the English language as a prerequisite
for voting. Article V presently contains one exception to the English language
requirement, where physical disability makes impossible the ability to read
or speak the English language. | 34,079 | 32,578 |
| Aug. 25,1970 | SJR 2 - Secretary of State Designated Lieutenant Governor
The proposition would amend the State Constitution in order to change the name
of the secretary of state to lieutenant governor. All powers and duties of the
office remain the same as under present constitutional language. |
46,102 | 18,781 |
| Aug. 25,1970 | HJR 11 - Chief Justice Election by Supreme Court
This provision amends the State Constitution by the addition of language prescribing
that the chief justice of the supreme court shall be selected from among the
justices of the court by a majority vote of the justices. The provision further
delineates the chief justice's term in office as three years and that although a justice
may serve more than one term as chief justice, such terms may not be consecutive. |
44,055 | 19,583 |
| Aug. 25,1970 | HJR 11 - Term of Office Judicial System Administrator
This provision amends the State Constitution by repealing the present language of Article
IV, Sec. 16, which provides that the administrative director of the judicial system
shall serve at the pleasure of the chief justice. The amendment would provide that the
administrative director's term of office shall be at the pleasure of the entire supreme
court. | 43,462 | 18,651 |
| Aug. 22,1972 | HJR 126 - Residency Requirement for Voting
Shall section 1, article V of othe Alaska Constitution be amended (underlined portions
to be added; bracketed and capitalized portions to be stricken) to read in part as
follows: QUALIFIED VOTERS. Every citizen ... at least eighteen years of age, who meets
registration residency requirements ... prescribed by law, and who is qualified
to vote under this article, may vote in any state or local election. A voter shall have
been, immediately preceding the election, a thirty day [FOR ONE YEAR A RESIDENT
OF ALASKA AND FOR THIRTY DAYS A] resident of the election district in which he seeks to
vote, ... | 31,130 | 20,745 |
| Aug. 22,1972 | HJR 102 - Prohibition of Sexual Discrimination
Shall section 3, article I of the Alaska Constitution be amended by adding a new word
(underlined word to be added) to read as follows: CIVIL RIGHTS. No person is to be
denied the enjoyment of any civil or political right because of race, color, creed,
sex, or national origin. The legislature shall implement this section. |
43,281 | 10,278 |
| Aug. 22, 1972 | SJR 68 - Right of Privacy
Shall article I of the Alaska Constitution be amended by adding a new section to read:
RIGHT OF PRIVACY. The right of the people to privacy is recognized and shall not be
infringed. The legislature shall implement this section. | 45,539 | 7,303 |
| Aug. 22, 1972 | SJR 52 - Borough Assemblies
Shall section 4, article X of the Alaska Constitution be amended by striking the last
two sentences of the present section (bracketed, capitalized sentences to be stricken)
which reads: ASSEMBLY. The governing body of the organized borough shall be the assembly,
and its composition shall be established by law or charter. [EACH CITY OF THE FIRST
CLASS, AND EACH CITY OF ANY OTHER CLASS DESIGNATED BY LAW, SHALL BE REPRESENTED ON THE
ASSEMBLY BY ONE OR MORE MEMBERS OF ITS COUNCIL. THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY SHALL
BE ELECTED FROM AND BY THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OUTSIDE SUCH CITIES.] |
30,132 | 19,354 |
| Aug. 22 ,1972 | SJR 10 - Limited Entry Fisheries
Shall section 15, article VIII of the Alaska Constitution be amended by adding a sentence
to the present section (underlined sentence to be added) which would read as follows:
NO EXCLUSIVE RIGHT OF FISHERY. No exclusive right or special privilege of fishery shall
be created or authorized in the natural waters of the State. This section does not
restrict the power of the State to limit entry into any fishery for purposes of resource
conservation, to prevent economic distress among fishermen and those dependent upon them
for a livelihood and to promote the efficient development of aquaculture in the State.
| 39,837 | 10,761 |
| Aug. 27,1974 | HRJ 20 - Time of Voting on Constitutional Amendments
Shall section 1, article XIII of the Alaska Constitution be amended to provide that amendments
to the Alaska Constitution shall be submitted to the voters, not at the next STATEWIDE
election following their proposal by the legislature, but at the next GENERAL election. |
56,017 | 20,403 |
| Nov. 2,1976 | Capital Site Selection
The capital site selection committee has selected three potential capital sites which
are set out below. The law provides that the qualified voters of the state are entitled
to vote for one of the alternate capital sites selected by the committee and that the
site receiving the greatest number of votes shall be the site of the new capital city
of Alaska. |
Larson Lake - 33,170
Mount Yenlo - 16,169
Willow - 56,219 |
| Nov. 2,1976 | HJR 11 - Action on Veto of Bills
This proposal would amend Article II, Section 9 (dealing with special sessions of the
legislature) and Article II, Section 16 (dealing with legislative action on vetoed bills)
of the Alaska Constitution. It provides specific procedures and time periods for the
reconsideration of bills vetoed by the governor after the adjournment of a regular
session. Bills vetoed after adjournment of the first regular session of a legislature
would be reconsidered no later than the fifth day of the second session or - if called -
of a special session of that legislature. | 71,829 | 39,980 |
| Nov. 2,1976 | HJR 39 - Permanent Fund From Non-Renewable Resource Revenue
This proposal would amend Article IX, Section 7 (Dedicated Funds) and add a new section
to Article IX, Section 15 (Alaska Permanent Fund) of the Alaska Constitution. It would
establish a constitutional permanent fund into which at least 25 percent of all mineral
lease rentals, royalties, royalty sale proceeds, federal mineral revenue sharing payment
and bonuses received by the state would be paid. The principal of the fund would be used
only for income-producing investments permitted by law. The income from the fund would
be deposited in the State's General Fund and be available for appropriation for the State
unless law provided otherwise. | 75,588 | 38,518 |
| Nov. 2,1976 |
SJR 45 - Administration and Review of State Land Disposals
This is a proposal to amend Article VIII, Section 10 of the Constitution of the State of
Alaska to add a sentence which would empower the legislature by law to require legislative
approval of individual sales, leases or other dispositions of state lands or interests in
state lands. The amendment would, with respect to state land disposals, exempt the
legislature from the constitutional prohibition against local and special legislation, vest
the legislature with the veto power and vest the legislature with the executive power of
administration and the judicial power of review. | 46,652 | 64,744 |
| Nov. 2,1976 | HJR 73 - Direct Financial Aid to Students
This is a proposal to amend Article VII, Section 1 of the Constitution of the State of
Alaska to allow public funds to be used to provide direct aid such as scholarships and
tuition equalization grants to students attending private educational institutions.
The Attorney General of the State of Alaska has interpreted Article VII, Section 1 of
the Constitution, as it now reads, to prohibit the State from giving tuition equilization
grants to students attending private colleges or universities in the State. |
54,636 | 64,211 |
| Nov. 7,1978 | SJR 16 - Powers of Legislative Interim Committees
This is a proposed constitutional amendment to article II, section 11 (interim legislative
committees) to allow the legislature, by law, to vest one of its interim committees with
the authority to share with the Governor the authority to approve or disapprove revisions
to the budget. The amendment would also permit the legislature to delegate to the committee
its power to appropriate federal or other monies received from non-state sources. |
48,078 | 68,403 |
| Nov. 4,1980 |
HJR 80 - Legislative Annulment of Regulations
This proposal would permit the legislature to annul, by adopting a resolution, regulations
adopted by state agencies. Annulment of regulations by resolution was authorized by the
First State Legislature in 1949; however, in 1980 the Alaska Supreme Court held that the
constitution permits the legislature to annul a regulation only by passing a bill, which
requires three readings of the bill and a roll call vote which is recorded. The procedures
for adopting resolutions are governed by legislative rules and require only the approval
of the resolution by voice vote of a majority of both houses. A bill passed by the
legislature annulling a regulation would be vetoed by the governor or repealed by referendum.
A resolution annulling a regulation could not. | 58,808 | 82,010 |
| Nov. 4,1980 | SJR 2 - Disqualification of Legislators
This is a proposal to eliminate the prohibition which exists during his term of office and
for one year thereafter against a legislator's taking a state office or position of profit,
during his term of office and for one year thereafter, the salary or emoluments of which
were increased while he was a member. It retains the prohibition against taking an office
which was created while he was a member. | 47,054 | 99,705 |
| Nov. 4,1980 | HJR 82 - Interim and Special Legislative Committees
This proposal would amend the state constitution to permit the legislature to adopt
procedures for establishing interim and special committees by legislative rule, which,
unlike a bill, may be adopted without three readings or a roll call vote and is not
subject to veto by the governor or repeal by referendum. This proposal would also allow
interim and special committees to meet during legislative sessions and would allow the
legislature to vest such a committee with the power to share with the governor the
authority to approve or disapprove budget revisions, including authorizations for
receiving and spending federal or other non-state funds. | 41,868 | 102,270 |
| Nov. 4,1980 | HJR 20 - Appointment and Confirmation of Members of Boards and Commissions
This proposal would expand the legislature's power over the appointment and confirmation
of members of state boards and commissions by giving it the power to provide for the
appointments to be made other than by the governor and the power to require confirmation
of members of all boards or commissions in addition to those which are at the head of
principal departments or regulatory or quasi-judicial agencies. |
56,316 | 90,506 |
| Nov. 2,1982 | HJR 71 - Veterans’ Housing Bonding Authority
This amendment to Article IX, section 8, of the Alaska Constitution would expand the
State's authority to incur indebtedness by allowing the State to issue general obligation
bonds for veterans' housing loans. The Constitution currently permits the State to
issue bonds secured by the general obligation of the State only for capital improvements.
| 111,460 | 69,497 |
| Nov. 2,1982 | HJR 32 - Changes in Commission on Judicial Qualifications
This amendment to article IV, section 10, of the Alaska Constitution re-names the
Commission on Judicial Qualifications and changes the makeup of the body. Membership of
the new Commission on Judicial Conduct would include: three justices or judges of state
courts (instead of the present requirement of five from specified courts); three
(instead of two) lawyers; and three (instead of two) persons who are neither members
of the state bar nor judges. Judicial members would be elected by all justices and
judges, rather than their respective courts, and lawyer members would be appointed
by the governor from state bar association nominees and subject to legislative
confirmation, rather than appointed directly by the bar. | 123,172 | 53,424 |
| Nov. 2,1982 | SJR 4 - Amendment Limiting Increases In Appropriations
This amendment adds a new section to article IX of the Alaska Constitution. The section
limits appropriations for a fiscal year to $2.5 billion, adjusted annually for changes in
population and inflation since 1981. At least one-third of the limitation amount is
reserved for appropriations for capital projects and state loan programs. The remainder
(up to two-thirds) may be spent for governmental operations. Appropriations to the
Alaska Permanent Fund and appropriations or bond authorizations for capital projects
may exceed this limit if they are not vetoed by the governor and are approved by the
voters. The limit could also be exceeded to meet a state of disaster declared by the
governor. The limit would not apply to appropriations for Permanent Fund dividends,
general obligation bond payments, appropriations from revenue bonds proceeds, or for costs
associated with relocation of the capital (if Ballot Measure No. 8 "Relocation of the
State Capital" is passed). The amendment provides for reconsideration of the limit
by the voters at the 1986 general election. | 110,669 | 71,531 |
| Nov. 6,1984 | HJR 5 - Legislative Annulment of Administrative Regulations
This amendment of the Alaska Constitution would permit the legislature to annul
executive-branch regulations by passing a resolution. The annulment would become
effective 30 days after passage by the legislature, unless the resolution sets a
different date. The resolution must have three readings in each house on separate days,
except that it may be advanced from second to third reading on the same day by a
three-fourths vote of the house considering it. The resolution must receive approval
of a majority of the membership of each house. The yeas and nays on final passage must
be entered in the legislative journals. The resolution is not subject to veto by the
governor, and it is not subject to repeal by referendum. | 91,171 | 98,855 |
| Nov. 6,1984 | HJR 2 - Limiting Length of Regular Legislative Sessions
This amendment to article II, section 8, of the Alaska Constitution adds a limit on
the length of regular sessions of the state legislature. The legislature must adjourn
no later than 120 consecutive calendar days after the date it convenes in regular session
each year. If at least two-thirds of each house of the legislature votes to extend the
regular session, the session may be extended once for up to 10 calendar days. The
legislature will adopt deadlines for scheduling session work in keeping with these
provisions. | 150,999 | 46,099 |
| Nov. 4,1986 | See SJR 4 from 1982 - Reconsideration of Constitutional Amendment Limiting Increase
In Appropriations
In 1982 the voters adopted an amendment to the Alaska Constitution which limits the
amount of money that the legislature may appropriate. The 1982 amendment provided
for reconsideration of the limit by the voters at this general election. Article IX,
sec. 15, of the Alaska Constitution limits appropriations for a fiscal year to
$2.5 billion, adjusted annually for changes in population and inflation since 1981.
At least one-third of the limitation amount is reserved for appropriations for
capital projects and state loan programs. The remainder (up to two-thirds) may
be spent for governmental operations. Appropriations to the Alaska Permanent Fund
and appropriations or bond authorizations for capital projects may exceed this limit
if they are not vetoed by the governor and are approved by the voters. The limit
could also be exceeded to meet a state of disaster declared by the governor. The
limit would not apply to appropriations for permanent fund dividends, general
obligation bond payments, or for appropriations from revenue bond proceeds. |
119,775 | 48,909 |
| Nov. 4,1986 | SJR 40 - Legislative Annulment of Administrative Regulations
This amendment of the Alaska constitution would permit the legislature to annul
executive branch regulations by passing a resolution that is not subject to veto
by the goerrnor or repeal by referendum. The annulment would become effective
30 days after passage by the legislature, unless the resolution sets a different
date. The resolution must have three readings in each house on separate days,
except that it may be advanced from second to third reading on the same day by a
three-fourths vote of the house considering it. The resolution must receive
approval of a majority of the membership of each house. The yeas and nays on
final passage must be entered in the legislative journals. |
65,176 | 94,299 |
| Nov. 8,1988 | HJR 18 - Amendment Relating to Residence Preference
This amendment adds a new part to the state constitution. The new part will
allow the state to give preference to residents of the state over people who
are not residents of the state, to the same extent allowed by the U.S.
Constitution. | 162,997 | 31,650 |
| Nov. 6,1990 | SJR 5 - Budget Reserve Constitutional Amendment
This proposal would create the "Budget Reserve Fund" in the state
treasury. Money the state receives from mineral revenue lawsuits or administrative
actions would be deposited in the Fund, and invested at competitive rates. The
Fund would be used when money available for appropriation in the year is less than
the year before, but only to make up the shortfall. The legislature could
only appropriate from the Fund for other purposes with a 3/4 vote. At the end of
each year, the Fund would have to be paid back from money left in the treasury's
general fund. | 124,280 | 63,307 |
| Nov. 8,1994 | SJR 39 - Right to Keep & Bear Arms
This proposal would amend article I, section 19 of the state constitution. This
section now reads: "A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security
of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be
infringed." The amendment would add this sentence to the section: "The
individual right to keep and bear arms shall not be denied or infringed by the
state or a political subdivision of the state." | 153,300 | 57,636 |
| Nov. 8,1994 | HJR 43 - Rights of Victims of Crime
Under article I, section 12 of the state constitution, the goals of the criminal
justice system are reformation of the criminal and protection of the public. This
proposed amendment would add the goals of community condemnation of the offender,
rights of victims of crime, and restitution by offenders. The proposed amendment
also sets out the rights of victims of crime. Those rights include the right to be
treated with dignity, respect, and fairness, to get information about a case, and
to take part in proceedings involving accused offenders. | 178,858 | 27,641 |
| Nov. 5, 1996 | SJR 31 - Constitutional Amendment Concerning Statehood Act Changes
This proposed amendment to Alaska's Constitution defines how the state would agree
to a change to the Alaska Statehood Act. This amendment provides that any changes
to the Statehood Act proposed by congress must be approved in one of two ways:
1) By a majority vote of Alaskan voters in an election, or 2) by a two-thirds
vote of the state legislature. | 157,936 | 71,082 |
| Nov. 3, 1998 | SJR 42 - Constitutional Amendment Limiting Marriage
This measure would amend the Declaration of Rights section of the Alaska Constitution
to limit marriage. The amendment would say that to be valid, a marriage may exist
only between one man and one woman. | 152,965 | 71,631 |
| Nov. 3, 1998 | HJR 44 - Constitutional Amendment to Reorganize Reapportionment Board
This measure changes the name, power and membership of the reapportionment board.
Under existing law, the governor selects the reapportionment board. With the advice
of the board, the governor draws the boundaries of election districts after each
federal census. This measure creates a redistricting board and gives it the power
to draw boundaries for 40 House and 20 Senate districts. Two members of the board
would be chosen by the governor, and one each by the House speaker, the Senate
president, and the chief justice of the Supreme Court. This board would have 90
days to act after being appointed. | 110,768 | 101,686 |
| Nov. 7, 2000 | HJR 56 - Amendment Prohibiting Voter Initiatives About Wildlife
This ballot measure would change the Alaska Constitution so that voters could not
use the initiative process to make laws that permit, regulate, or prohibit taking
or transporting wildlife, or prescribe seasons or methods for taking wildlife. |
96,253 | 179,552 |
| Nov. 7, 2000 | SJR 27 - Amendment and Revision of Alaska Constitution
This proposal says that an amendment to the Alaska Constitution is a change that is
limited to one subject. It may affect more than one part of the constitution. This
proposal also adds a new section to article XIII of the Alaska Constitution. It says
that a court may not change the language of an amendment to the constitution proposed
by the legislature. Also, a court may not change the language of an amendment or
revision proposed by a constitutional convention. | 114,310 | 151,467 |
| Nov. 7, 2000 | SJR 34 - Constitutional Amendment Relating to Public Corporations
This amendment states that the Alaska permanent fund would be managed by a public
corporation established by law. Members of the public appointed by the governor to the
board of this corporation would not be subject to legislative approval. These members
may only be removed from the board for cause. However, members appointed by the governor
to boards of other public corporations that manage significant state assets must be
approved by the legislature. Also, a law could be enacted to provide that these other
board members may only be removed from office for cause. | 72,419 | 194,975 |
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