Two ballot measures face Alaskans at the polls today: Ballot Measure 1 asks to tie the annual PFD application to voter registration while Ballot Measure 2 asks voters to approve a constitutional amendment relating to student loans.
Under Ballot Measure 1, Alaskans’ data would be used by the Division of Elections from Alaska Permanent Fund dividend applications to register qualified voters. Those who do not want to be registered could opt out of the process.
Supporters say the measure will create more efficiency and potentially add about 70,000 Alaskans to the voting roll in one year.
Those who oppose Ballot Measure 1 say merging the systems is an unnecessary expense and there are plenty of ways for Alaskans to register to vote.
Eagle River State Senator Anna MacKinnon sponsored Ballot Measure 2, which aims to “expand the State’s authority to incur debt by letting the State issue general obligation bonds backed by the state for postsecondary student loans.”
Sen. MacKinnon: “What Ballot Measure Two does is it’s a constitutional amendment that, like veteran’s home or capital projects, would allow the state to use its full faith and credit to reduce the cost of interest rates that student loans pay. So that’s anticipated about 1% less than they’re currently paying.”
Currently, general obligation bonds are only allowed for financing capital projects and housing loans for veterans and military defense.
Sen. MacKinnon: “It’s a general obligation bond, it’s a very small risk. It means if everyone defaulted on their lons, the state would have to pick up the payments, but for over three decades the Student Loan Corporation has operated and paid back all the student loan debt.”