Copyright Anchorage Daily News
As Alaskans who care deeply about the future of our state and the integrity of our democracy, we feel compelled to speak out in support of the Citizen-Only Voting Initiative. At first glance, some may shrug and say, “Don’t our laws already require you to be a U.S. citizen to vote?” But the truth is less clear. Right now, Alaska law uses the word may — and that ambiguity creates space for confusion and misinterpretation. This initiative would add the word only as a qualifier to citizens and remove any ambiguity that currently exists. Whether we live in Anchorage, Ketchikan, the Mat-Su or the most remote village, we overwhelmingly recognize that voting is a sacred right tied to U.S. citizenship. The initiative simply aligns Alaska with what the framers of our Constitution already intended: that citizenship and voting go hand in hand. In fact, since 2018, 14 other states have taken similar steps to make citizen-only voting language explicit. Unfortunately, a few misconceptions have clouded the conversation. Some argue that this is a “solution in search of a problem.” But that ignores recent developments across the country. This is not about noncitizens voting illegally or intentional voter fraud. It is about providing clarity and certainty in the law before confusion or legal challenges take hold here in Alaska. In 2021, New York City tried to give nearly 900,000 noncitizens the right to vote in local elections. Legislation to expand noncitizen voting has been introduced in California, Connecticut, Illinois, and Rhode Island. Today, 22 cities across the country, including Washington, D.C., allow noncitizens to vote in some local elections. In fact, noncitizen voting laws have been challenged in California and the courts have held that, unless voting is specifically reserved for only U.S. citizens in the state constitution, cities may allow non-citizens to legally vote. That ruling underscores the importance of this initiative. The courts are not governed by common sense but by the text of the laws they are judging. In addition, this initiative does not amend the state constitution; only the Legislature can put a constitutional amendment on the ballot. To pretend noncitizen voting could not happen here is to dismiss the reality of a growing, organized effort to dilute the meaning of citizenship nationwide. Alaska must make it crystal clear: The right to vote in state and local elections belongs to U.S. citizens and no one else. Another common misconception is that this initiative is “anti-immigrant.” That could not be further from the truth. We honor and respect immigrants who come here, follow the path to naturalization, and take the oath of citizenship. They enrich our communities and, once they become citizens, earn the same sacred right to vote as every other American. This initiative celebrates that shared bond and makes sure the rights of U.S. citizens are not devalued. This proposal brings clarity to the law, ensuring no one is left guessing. Some may wonder why we are nitpicking over a single word — may. But legal language matters. Our statutes specifically require that anyone circulating a petition be a U.S. citizen. Yet when it comes to voter qualifications, the language weakens. The existing statute states that a person may vote if they are a U.S. citizen, but it does not require them to be. The proposed initiative not only safeguards the integrity of our elections but also affirms a basic principle: The privilege of choosing our leaders and shaping our communities belongs to U.S. citizens. This is not controversial. It is common sense. At a time of deep division in our nation, this initiative offers something rare — a unifying cause. We can all come together, regardless of politics, around the principle that citizenship means something. As Alaskans and proud Americans, we urge our neighbors to support the Citizen-Only Voting Initiative. We owe it to future generations to keep the meaning of citizenship strong and unambiguous. Voting is the heartbeat of our democracy. Let’s keep it in the hands of U.S. citizens. Former state Sen. John Coghill (Fairbanks), former state Rep. Mike Chenault (Kenai) and former state Sen. Josh Revak (Anchorage) are sponsors of the Citizen-Only Voting Initiative. Together, they served a total of 45 years in the Alaska Legislature.
