Voters split on ballot measures, choose to retain judges

It will be easier to register to vote, but not to take out college student loans, as Alaskans gave mixed verdicts on two ballot measures.

Voters passed Ballot Measure 1, that requires people who apply for Permanent Fund dividends to automatically be registered to vote. With all but a few precincts reporting, about 64 percent of voters supported the measure.

Ballot Measure 2 was defeated. It would have allowed the state to issue bonds to support college student loans. The goal of the measure was to lower the interest for student loans. But voters rejected the measure, with 56 percent voting against it.

In addition, all 33 judges on the ballot were retained by voters. An effort spearheaded by anti-abortion groups targeted Justices Joel Bolger and Peter Maassen, but they were retained.

Andrew Kitchenman

State Government Reporter, Alaska Public Media & KTOO

State government plays an outsized role in the life of Alaskans. As the state continues to go through the painful process of deciding what its priorities are, I bring Alaskans to the scene of a government in transition.

Sign up for The Signal

Top Alaska stories delivered to your inbox every week

Site notifications
Update notification options
Subscribe to notifications