Alaska Establish Campaign Contribution Limits for State and Local Elections Initiative (2026)

Alaska Establish Campaign Contribution Limits for State and Local Elections Initiative
Election date November 3, 2026
Topic Campaign finance
Status On the ballot
Type Indirect initiated state statute	Origin Citizens

The Alaska Establish Campaign Contribution Limits for State and Local Elections Initiative is on the ballot in Alaska as an initiated state statute on November 3, 2026.

A "yes" vote supports establishing new campaign contribution limits for campaigns for state and local offices, including: Individuals allowed to contribute up to $2,000 per election cycle to candidates, up to $4,000 for a joint governor and lieutenant governor ticket, or up to $5,000 for a political party, and Political parties allowed to contribute up to $4,000 for candidates and $5,000 to other parties or political groups.

A "no" vote opposes establishing new campaign contribution limits for campaigns for state and local offices.

Overview

How would the initiative limit campaign finance contributions in Alaska?

See also: Text of measure

This initiative would establish campaign contribution limits. Individuals would be able to contribute up to $2,000 each election cycle to a candidate, an entity influencing the election of a candidate, as well as up to $5,000 a year to a political party or other group. A group that is not a political party or other non group entity may contribute $4,000 each election cycle to a candidate and $5,000 a year to another group or political party. When it comes to contributions made to a joint campaign for governor and lieutenant governor in the state, an individual may contribute no more than $4,000 each election cycle, while groups may contribute no more than $8,000 each election cycle. The initiative will not affect contributions made by super PACs or independent expenditure groups.

Alaska had previously established campaign contribution limits most recently in 2006, when voters approved Measure 1. These limits consisted of individuals contributing to no more than $500 per year to a candidate, political group, or party. The same limit applied to non-party groups donating to candidates.

What are the current campaign finance limits in Alaska?

See also: Background

Alaska currently has no limits on campaign contributions—individuals, groups, or parties can donate unlimited amounts directly to candidates or political groups. This has been the case since a 2021 federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision struck down the prior limits. In Thompson v. Hebdon (2021), the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit struck down Alaska’s individual-to-candidate contribution limit of $500 per year, ruling it unconstitutional under the First Amendment. The court found the limit too low to allow meaningful political expression and concluded that it was not narrowly tailored to prevent corruption or its appearance. The ruling invalidated Alaska’s contribution caps, leaving the state without enforceable individual limits on campaign donations.

How many states have campaign contribution limits?

See also: Campaign contribution limits by state

Currently, 38 states have contribution limits on how much an individual may contribute to a state-level candidate, with limits varying by state, office, and election cycle. Meanwhile, 12 states—Alabama, Alaska, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Virginia—provide for unlimited individual contributions to state-level candidates.

Text of measure

Full text

The full text of the ballot measure is below:

Note: Hover over the text and scroll to see the full text.

Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a section to read:

FINDINGS AND INTENT. The People of the State of Alaska find:

(1) The people of Alaska believe that political power and influence with public officials should not be allocated solely based on wealth. Instead, reasonable limits on the amount of campaign contributions are necessary to secure equal rights for Alaskans and to preserve the integrity of our elections.

Section 2. AS 15.13.070(b) is amended to read:

(b) Except as provided in (h) of this section, an AN individual may contribute not more than 

(1) $2,000 each election cycle $500 PER YEAR to a nongroup entity for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of a candidate, to a candidate, or to an individual who conducts a write-in campaign as a candidate ,OR TO A GROUP THAT IS NOT A POLITICAL PARTY; 

(2) $5,000 a PER year to a political party or other group.

Section 3. AS 15.13.070(c) is amended to read:

(c) Except as provided in (h) of this section, a A group that is not a political party may contribute not more than (1) $4,000 each election cycle $1,000 PER YEAR (1) to a candidate, or to an individual who conducts a write-in campaign as a candidate; (2) $5,000 each year to another group, to a nongroup entity, or to a political party.

Section 4. AS 15.13.070(f) is amended to read:

(f) Except as provided in (h) of this section, a A nongroup entity may contribute not more than (1) $4,000 each election cycle $1,000 A YEAR to another nongroup entity for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of a candidate, to a candidate, or to an individual who conducts a write-in campaign as a candidate; (2) $5,000 each year, to a group , or to a political party.

Section 5. AS 15.13.070(g) is amended to read:

(g) Where contributions are made to a joint campaign for governor and lieutenant governor, (1) an individual may contribute not more than $4,000 each election cycle $1,000 PER YEAR; and (2) a group may contribute not more than $8,000 each election cycle $2,000 PER YEAR.

Section 6. AS 15.13.070 is amended by adding new subsections to read:

(h) In order to comply with federal caselaw, the contribution limits provided under (b)(l), (c)(2), and (f) of this section do not apply to an individual, group, or nongroup entity contributing to a group or nongroup entity that makes only independent expenditures. (i) Beginning in the first quarter of calendar year 2031 and every 10 years thereafter, the commission shall, by regulation, adjust the contribution limitations set out in this section by a percentage equal to the percentage of increase over the preceding 10-year period in all items of the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for Anchorage, Alaska, rounded to the nearest $50 increment.

Section 7. AS 15.13.llO(i) is amended to read:

(i) During an election cycle A CAMPAIGN PERIOD, the commission may not change the manner or format in which reports required of a candidate under this chapter must be filed. IN THIS SUBSECTION, “CAMPAIGN PERIOD” MEANS THE PERIOD BEGINNING ON THE DATE THAT A CANDIDATE BECOMES ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS UNDER THIS CHAPTER AND ENDING ON THE DATE THAT A FINAL REPORT FOR THAT SAME CAMPAIGN MUST BE FILED.

Section 8. AS 15.13.400 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read:

(20) “election cycle” means the period beginning on the date that a candidate becomes eligible to receive campaign contributions under this chapter and ending on the date that a final report for that same campaign must be filed.

Section 9. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read:

APPLICABILITY. This Act does not apply to contributions made to influence the outcome of any election that occurred on or before the effective date of this Act.

SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Act are independent and severable. If any provision of this Act or the applicability of any provision to any person or circumstance, shall be held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Act shall not be affected and shall be given effect to the fullest extent possible.

Support

Citizens Against Money in Politics is leading the campaign in support of the initiative.

Supporters

Officials

• State Rep. Calvin Schrage (Nonpartisan)

Former Officials

• Frmr. Alaska Attorney General Bruce Botelho

Arguments

• Citizens Against Money in Politics: "This ballot measure will reinstate fair, reasonable, and constitutional campaign contribution limits which are adjusted for inflation moving forward, ensuring these limits remain constitutional. This initiative moves Alaska’s campaign contributions to a 'per campaign period' basis instead of the prior 'per year' limits. This ensures that candidates, regardless of when they begin their campaign, are subject to the same limits as every other candidates. It also limits the amount an individual can contribute to a candidates to $2,000 per campaign and sets the amount a group can contribute to a candidate to $4,000 per campaign. These changes uphold the clear desire of Alaskan voters to fair and reasonable contribution limits and promote good government and accountability, while addressing the constitutional concerns laid out by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals."

Opposition

Ballotpedia has not located a campaign in opposition to the ballot measure. You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Campaign finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Alaska ballot measures

The campaign finance information on this page reflects the most recent scheduled reports that Ballotpedia has processed, which covered through January 7, 2025.

Citizens Against Money in Politics is the campaign registered in support of the initiative.

	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Support	$107,905.00	$3,457.39	$111,362.39	$71,882.87	$75,340.26
Oppose	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total	$107,905.00	$3,457.39	$111,362.39	$71,882.87	$75,340.26

Support

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in support of the measure.

Committees in support of Establish Campaign Contribution Limits for State and Local Elections Initiative
Committee	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Citizens Against Money in Politics	$107,905.00	$3,457.39	$111,362.39	$71,882.87	$75,340.26
Total	$107,905.00	$3,457.39	$111,362.39	$71,882.87	$75,340.26

Donors

The following were the top donors who contributed to the support committees.

Donor	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions
New Venture Fund	$75,000.00	$0.00	$75,000.00
Alaska AFL-CIO	$10,000.00	$0.00	$10,000.00
NEA Alaska	$10,000.00	$0.00	$10,000.00
ASEA/AFSCME Local	$5,000.00	$0.00	$5,000.00

Methodology

To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.

Background

Alaska Measure 1 (2006)

Measure 1 was on the August 22, 2006 ballot in Alaska as an indirect initiated state statute. The measure was approved by voters by 73%-27%, though certain provisions were later overturned. The measure decreased the maximum amount an individual may give a candidate or group from $1,000 to $500, and decreased the amount an individual may give a political party from $10,000 to $5,000. The measure also decreased the amount a group may give a candidate or group from $2,000 to $1,000, and the amount a group may give to a political party from $4,000 to $1,000. It was also designed to limit annual aggregate contributions a candidate may accept from nonresidents of Alaska.

Thompson v. Hebdon

After Measure 1 passed in 2006, three individuals and a subdivision of the Alaska Republican Party in November 2015 challenged some provisions of the measure. Specifically, the provisions that were challenged were (a) the $500 annual limit on individual contributions to a political candidate, (b) the $500 limit on an individual contribution to a non-political party group, (3) annual limits on what a political party and its subdivisions may contribute to a candidate, and (4) the annual aggregate limit on contributions a candidate can accept from nonresidents of Alaska. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the limit on nonresidents violated the First Amendment. The opinion stated, "The nonresident limit, which at most, targeted contributors' influence over Alaska politics, did not target an 'important state interest' and therefore violated the First Amendment."

The case went up to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, in a per curiam decision, vacated the judgment by the Ninth Circuit Court, remanding the case to the appellate court. The Court noted that the Ninth Circuit did not apply Randall v. Sorrell, in which the Court invalidated a Vermont law that limited individual contributions. In a separate statement, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said that Alaska's law lacks certain features the Court found troubling in Vermont's contribution laws that were cited in the Randall decision.

Campaign contribution limits by state

See also: State-by-state comparison of campaign finance requirements

The table below summarizes individual contribution requirements by state in the 2023-2024 election cycle. Unlimited contribution limit provisions are highlighted in light green; contribution limits of $500 or less are highlighted in light yellow.

Individual contribution limits by state, 2023-2024
State	Gubernatorial candidates	State legislature, upper chamber, candidates	State legislature, lower chamber, candidates	Notes
Alabama	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Alaska	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Arizona	$5,400	$5,400	$5,400	Limits apply per election.
Arkansas	$2,900	$2,900	$2,900	Limits apply per election.
California	$36,400	$5,500	$5,500	Limits apply per election.
Colorado	$625	$200	$200	Limits apply per election.
Connecticut	$3,500	$1,000	$250	Limits apply per election.
Delaware	$1,200	$600	$600	Limits apply per election cycle.
Florida	$3,000	$1,000	$1,000	Limits apply per election.
Georgia	$8,400	$3,300	$3,300	Limits apply per election.
Hawaii	$6,000	$4,000	$2,000	Limits apply per election cycle.
Idaho	$5,000	$1,000	$1,000	Limits apply per election.
Illinois	$6,900	$6,900	$6,900	Limits apply per election cycle.
Indiana	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Iowa	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Kansas	$2,000	$1,000	$500	Limits apply per election.
Kentucky	$2,100	$2,100	$2,100	Limits apply per election.
Louisiana	$5,000	$2,500	$2,500	Limits apply per election.
Maine	$1,950	$475	$475	Limits apply per election.
Maryland	$6,000	$6,000	$6,000	Limits apply per four-year election cycle.
Massachusetts	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	Limits apply per calendar year.
Michigan	$8,325	$2,450	$1,225	Limits apply per election cycle.
Minnesota	$4,000	$1,000	$1,000	Limits apply per two-year election segment.
Mississippi	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Missouri	$2,825	$2,400	$2,000	Limits apply per election.
Montana	$1,000	$400	$400	Limits apply per election.
Nebraska	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Nevada	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	Limits apply per election.
New Hampshire	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	Limits apply per election.
New Jersey	$4,900	$2,600	$2,600	Limits apply per election cycle.
New Mexico	$11,000	$5,500	$5,500	Limits apply per election.
New York	$9,000	$5,000	$3,000	Limits apply per general election.
North Carolina	$6,400	$6,400	$6,400	Limits apply per election.
North Dakota	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Ohio	$15,499.69	$15,499.69	$15,499.69	Limits apply per election.
Oklahoma	$3,300	$3,300	$3,300	Limits apply per campaign.
Oregon	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Pennsylvania	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Rhode Island	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	Limits apply per calendar year.
South Carolina	$3,500	$1,000	$1,000	Limits apply per election.
South Dakota	$4,000	$1,000	$1,000	Limits apply per calendar year.
Tennessee	$4,900	$1,800	$1,800	Limits apply per election.
Texas	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Utah	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Vermont	$4,480	$1,680	$1,120	Limits apply per two-year election cycle.
Virginia	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Washington	$2,400	$1,200	$1,200	Limits apply per election.
West Virginia	$2,800	$2,800	$2,800	Limits apply per election.
Wisconsin	$20,000	$2,000	$1,000	According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, "amounts apply for term of office for an incumbent; for non-incumbents, the amounts apply beginning on the date on which the person becomes a candidate and ends on the day before the term of office begins."
Wyoming	$2,500	$1,500	$1,500	Limits apply per election.
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Limits on Contributions to Candidates, 2023-2024 Election Cycle," updated May 2023

List of campaign finance ballot measure, 1988-2024

The following table provides a list of campaign finance ballot measures from 1988 to 2024:

State	Year	Measure	Yes	No	Outcome
Maine	2024	Question 1, Limit Contributions to Super PACs Initiative	74.91%	25.09%	a
Maine	2023	Question 2, Prohibit Foreign Spending in Elections Initiative	86.33%	13.67%	a
Arizona	2022	Proposition 211, Campaign Finance Sources Disclosure Initiative	72.34%	27.66%	a
Alaska	2020	Ballot Measure 2, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting and Campaign Finance Laws Initiative	50.55%	49.45%	a
Massachusetts	2018	Question 2, Advisory Commission for Amendments to the U.S. Constitution Regarding Corporate Personhood and Political Spending Initiative	71.36%	28.64%	a
Washington	2016	State-Provided Campaign Financing Funded by a Non-Resident Sales Tax, Initiative 1464	53.71%	46.29%	d
Missouri	2016	State and Judicial Campaign Contribution Limits, Constitutional Amendment 2	69.95%	30.05%	a/ot
California	2016	Proposition 59, Overturn of Citizens United Act Advisory Question	53.18%	46.82%	a
Maine	2015	"Clean Elections" Initiative, Question 1	54.96%	45.04%	a
Montana	2012	Corporate Contributions Initiative, I-166	74.67%	25.33%	a
Florida	2010	Amendment 1, Repeal of Public Financing for Statewide Campaigns Amendment	52.49%	47.51%	d
Oregon	2006	Measure 47, Campaign Finance Limits and Disclosure Initiative	53.04%	46.96%	a
Ohio	2005	Issue 3, Campaign Finance Initiative	33.14%	66.86%	d
California	2000	Proposition 34, State Elective Office Campaign Contribution Limits Measure	60.01%	39.99%	a
California	1996	Proposition 212, Campaign Spending and Contribution Limits Initiative	49.16%	50.84%	d
Washington	1992	Initiative 134, Campaign Contribution Limit Measure	72.89%	27.11%	a
California	1988	Proposition 105, Disclosure Requirements to Consumers, Voters, and Investors Initiative	54.59%	45.41%	a

Path to the ballot

Process in Alaska

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Alaska

In Alaska, the number of signatures required for an indirect initiated state statute is equal to 10 percent of the votes cast in the preceding gubernatorial election. Alaska also has a signature distribution requirement, which requires that signatures equal to 7 percent of the vote in the last general election must be collected in each of three-fourths of the 40 state House districts. Petitions are allowed to circulate for 365 days from the date the lieutenant governor issues petition booklets to be distributed for signature gathering. Signatures must be submitted 365 days after the lieutenant governor issued petition booklets to be distributed for signature gathering or before the legislative session begins, whichever comes first.

The requirements to get an indirectly initiated state statute certified for the 2024 ballot:

• Signatures: 26,705 valid signatures were required.
• Deadline: The deadline to submit signatures was on January 15, 2024.

In Alaska, when enough signatures are verified for an initiative, the initiative is not certified for the ballot until after "a legislative session has convened and adjourned." This gives the Legislature a timeframe to consider the proposal or similar legislation. The initiative is void when “an act of the legislature that is substantially the same as the proposed law was enacted after the petition had been filed, and before the date of the election," according to state law. Otherwise, the initiative is certified to appear on the ballot for the first statewide election 120 days after the legislature's adjournment.

Stages of this ballot initiative

• May 5, 2023: The initiative, titled "An Act restoring campaign contribution limits for campaigns for state and local office; and restoring limits on out-of-state contributions to candidates for state and local office.", was filed. This text was withdrawn.
• July 5, 2023: Another version of the text was filed, titled "An Act restoring campaign contribution limits for campaigns for state and local office."
• September 1, 2023: The initiative was certified to be cleared for signature gathering.
• October 17 2023: Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom certified the measure to the legislature. The measure received 29,823 signatures from registered Alaska voters.
• May 20, 2025: The Alaska State Legislature adjourned. Because the Legislature did not act on the initiative, the initiative was certified to the ballot.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Alaska

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Alaska.

How to vote in Alaska

Poll times

In Alaska, polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. Alaska is divided between the Alaska time zone and the Hawaii-Aleutian time zone. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Alaska, each applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Alaska, and at least 18 years of age or within 90 days of their 18th birthday. An individual convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude may not register to vote until their voting rights have been restored. If registered to vote in another state, applicants must be willing to cancel that registration in order to vote in Alaska. To vote in Alaska, registered voters must be at least 18 years old and have been a resident of the state and election district for at least 30 days.

Prospective voters can register online, with a paper form, or in person at a Division of Elections Office or a voter registration agency. The deadline to register or make changes to a registration is 30 days before an election.

If submitting an application form by mail, fax, or email, the applicant must provide one of the following forms of identification either with his or her application or when voting for the first time:

“

Current and valid photo identification Driver’s license Passport State identification card Birth certificate Hunting and Fishing license.

”

Automatic registration

Alaska automatically registers eligible individuals to vote when they apply for a Permanent Fund Dividend, unless they opt out.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Alaska has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Alaska allows same-day voter registration in presidential election years, but voters who do so can vote only for the offices of president and vice president.

Residency requirements

Alaska law requires 30 days of residency in the state and election district before a person may vote.

According to the Division of Elections' website, "you are considered an Alaska resident if you reside in the state and intend to remain a resident or, if you temporarily leave the state, you have intention to return (Active military members, spouses or dependents are exempt from the intent to return requirement)."

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Alaska does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site My Voter Information, run by the Alaska Department of Elections, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Alaska requires voters to present non-photo identification while voting.

The following were accepted forms of identification as of July 2024. Click here for the Alaska Division of Elections' page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

• Voter ID card
• Driver’s license
• State ID
• Other photo ID
• Passport
• Hunting or fishing license
• If you do not have the one of the identifications listed above, you may present a current utility bill or paycheck, government check or bank statement or other government issued document. These documents must have your current residence address.

See also

2026 ballot measures

View other measures certified for the 2026 ballot across the U.S. and in Alaska.

• 2026 ballot measures
• Alaska 2026 ballot measures
• Alaska elections, 2026

Alaska ballot measures

Explore Alaska's ballot measure history, including citizen-initiated ballot measures.

• List of Alaska ballot measures
• Campaign finance ballot measures
• Alaska State Legislature

Initiative process

Understand how measures are placed on the ballot and the rules that apply.

• Laws governing the initiative process in Alaska
• Initiated state statute
• Alaska Constitution

External links

• Text of Initiative Petition (2024)