It seems that the classical bait and switch method of confusing voters and muddying up the waters of a simple election system continues.

My recent review of Ballot Initiative 24ESEG in preparation for casting my vote, leaves one shaking his or her head and wondering what the real intention of melding two clearly distinct issues in one initiative might be.

In case you are wondering, I am neither Democrat nor Republic. I am, instead, a Constitutionist. My perspective on all things election related is based on the Actual Intent of the Framers of the US Constitution who recognized that the people and the states retain their right to determine the election rules at the state and local level, except regarding federal elections.

My experience in elections is diverse. I have voted in five states with various election processes. While living on the Japanese island of Okinawa, I went through the absentee ballot process. I lived in Washington as that state went through a major transition from a party primary system into a Top Two Primary and a general election where candidates state their “preferred party”, and voting is mail-in ballot only. I re-located to Alaska, just in time to experience the Top Four Primary and Ranked-Choice Voting system.

As an active leader in the Constitution Party since 2003, at both the state and national level, I have watched the vote of millions of people suppressed by draconian ballot access laws and various attempts to manipulate elections across the nation. As a Alaskan voter and activist, I have a vested interest in working to keep Alaska elections clean and open, and free of “dark money”. 

The question is: Will this initiative do the job?

An Act Restoring Political Party Primaries, Ending Ranked-Choice General Elections, and Repealing Recent Campaign Finance Laws, quoting from the state Elections office letter.

“This act would get rid of open primary elections, where all candidates appear on one ballot. It would also get rid of ranked-choice general elections.  It would bring back political party primaries and single-choice general elections.  It would also repeal certain campaign finance rules that were added by a 2020 ballot measure.”

Should this initiative become law?  The choice is up to you. 

Initiative 24ESEG will certainly restore the former primary system.  It will certainly stop the confusion and political shenanigans surrounding the Ranked-Choice Vote system.  But voting NO will not stop problems with how campaigns are financed.  That will have to be another battle for a separate initiative that should be discussed on its own merits.

The permanent fix? 

First, abolish the primary system in the state of Alaska. Primaries did not exist in America before 1842, when the first one was held in Pennsylvania.  By 1917 most states had opted in to them.  Alaska had its first primary on August 26, 1958.  The rise of the primary system coincided with the major rise of formalized political parties, as they began to solidify power over all levels of government, which thing the Framers of the Constitution both discouraged and feared would eventually lead to the destruction of American Liberty. 

The 2024 – 2025 budget numbers for the state of Alaska election is just over $2.87 million. If about 1/3 of the voters turned out for the primary so expenses would have been approximately 1/3 of that budget or around $956,000. Is there a better use for that money?

Next, we could implement an open general election system. Political parties are private organizations and should choose their candidates through their own internal processes. There is no federal or state constitutional authorization for them to be a part of the government except through the election of individual candidates. Ballot access requirements should be the same for all candidates seeking office. Equal opportunity for all is the basis of a true democratic republic.

“Dark money” can be stopped easily enough. Campaign contributions can only be received from registered voters living with the jurisdictional boundaries for which the candidate is running for office. For example, statewide office should only receive funds only from legal and lawful residents of the state of Alaska.  No PAC’s, no other type of corporation, only the people of Alaska. The same rules would apply to candidates at all levels of government.  No money coming from outside that district.  After all, the Constitution does state “We-the-People”, not “We-the Corporation” or “We-the PAC” or We the anything else.

I suggest voting YES on Initiative 24ESEG, recognizing that it falls far short of fixing the problem.  Then we can roll up our sleeves and get to work to make a real change in our election system. We are, after all, the People, and the only ones who have the unalienable right to do so.

Karen Murray, Alaska Constitution Party State Chairman