History of Initiative & Referendum in Alaska

Alaska became the 20th state to adopt a statewide initiative process when it became a state in 1959. However, the procedure does not include the right to make appropriations or amend the state constitution.

In 1974 voters approved an initiative to relocate the state capitol. Without an appropriation, this decision could be implemented only if the legislature acted. Since the legislature failed to respond, voters passed another initiative in 1978, this time requiring the state government to determine the cost of relocation and stipulating that any bond issue to finance that cost be subject to voter approval. The bond issue went to the voters in 1980, but they rejected it, with the result that Juneau is still the state capital, despite its great distance from the major population center, Anchorage. However, there is a strong likelihood that Alaskans will once again vote on an initiative to move the capitol in 2002.

In 1976 Alaskans passed an initiative to abolish one house of their legislature and create a unicameral lawmaking body like Nebraska’s. Unfortunately, a constitutional amendment was needed to accomplish this change, and Alaska’s initiative procedure does not allow amendments. Members of the legislature, not wishing to abolish their jobs, predictably ignored the measure. They did pay heed, however, to an initiative sponsored by the Libertarian Party to abolish the state personal income tax. The initiative qualified for the November 1980 ballot but was enacted by the legislature on September 25 of that year, thus making a popular vote unnecessary.

Acknowledgements

This article is significantly based on an article published by the Initiative & Referendum Institute, and is used with their permission. Their article, in turn, relies on research in David Schmidt's book, Citizen Lawmakers: The Ballot Initiative Revolution.