Alaska Keeps Control Over Its Voter Lists

Alaska’s elections are run by Alaskans, not outsiders. A recent discussion has confused people about a deal between the state’s election office and the U.S. Justice Department. The agreement is simply a legal way for the state to share voter information with federal agencies, but it does not give the federal government any power over who can vote in Alaska.

Key Points

• State Authority
  State law says the election office may provide names, birth dates, addresses and other identifiers to federal partners for lawful purposes.
  The data is sent through a secure channel under an official Memorandum of Understanding that sets clear limits on how the information can be used and protects it from misuse.

• Federal Role
  The Justice Department can flag possible problems—like duplicate registrations or people who have moved away—but it cannot delete anyone from the list.
  When an issue is identified, Alaska has 45 days to clean up its records following state and federal rules. Even then, a voter is only removed after the election office reviews the case.

• Voter Eligibility
  If a name appears on an inactive list, that person can still vote if they meet eligibility requirements.
  Any removal or inactivation follows Alaska’s legal process, which includes notifying voters and waiting periods before any action is taken. Every decision stays in Alaska’s hands.

Bottom Line

Calling this arrangement a threat to local control misleads voters. The partnership is transparent, lawful, and aimed at safeguarding Alaska’s elections. The state remains fully responsible for its voter rolls.