Constitution of Alaska (2024 publisher edition) — Article XI: Initiative, Referendum, and Recall

Publisher edition notice: This collection contains the complete official legislative PDF edition published in 2024. Later amendments have not been independently verified against a current provision inventory.

Article XI Initiative, Referendum, and Recall

Article XI, Sections: 1 . Initiative and Referendum 2 . Application 3 . Petition 4 . Initiative Election 5 . Referendum Election 6 . Enactment 7 . Restrictions 8 . Recall

50 ARTICLE XI - INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM, AND RECALL

§ 11.1 - Initiative and Referendum The people may propose and enact laws by the initiative, and approve or reject acts of the legislature by the referendum . § 11.2 - Application An initiative or referendum is proposed by an application containing the bill to be initiated or the act to be referred . The application shall be signed by not less than one hundred qualified voters as sponsors, and shall be filed with the lieutenant governor . If he finds it in proper form he shall so certify . Denial of certification shall be subject to judicial review . [Amended 1970] § 11.3 - Petition After certification of the application, a petition containing a summary of the subject matter shall be prepared by the lieutenant governor for circulation by the sponsors . If signed by qualified voters who are equal in number to at least ten percent of those who voted in the preceding general election, who are resident in at least three-fourths of the house districts of the State, and who, in each of those house districts, are equal in number to at least seven percent of those who voted in the preceding general election in the house district, it may be filed with the lieutenant governor . [Amend 1970, 1998, and 2004] § 11.4 - Initiative Election An initiative petition may be filed at any time . The lieutenant governor shall prepare a ballot title and proposition summarizing the proposed law, and shall place them on the ballot for the first statewide election held more than one hundred twenty days after adjournment of the legislative session following the filing . If, before the election, substantially the same measure has been enacted, the petition is void . [Amended 1970] § 11.5 - Referendum Election A referendum petition may be filed only within ninety days after adjournment of the legislative session at which the act was passed . The lieutenant governor shall prepare a ballot title and proposition summarizing the act and shall place them on the ballot for the first statewide election held more than one hundred eighty days after adjournment of that session . [Amended 1970]

51 § 11.6 - Enactment If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition favor its adoption, the initiated measure is enacted . If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition favor the rejection of an act referred, it is rejected . The lieutenant governor shall certify the election returns . An initiated law becomes effective ninety days after certification, is not subject to veto, and may not be repealed by the legislature within two years of its effective date . It may be amended at any time . An act rejected by referendum is void thirty days after certification . Additional procedures for the initiative and referendum may be prescribed by law . [Amended 1970] § 11.7 - Restrictions The initiative shall not be used to dedicate revenues, make or repeal appropriations, create courts, define the jurisdiction of courts or prescribe their rules, or enact local or special legislation . The referendum shall not be applied to dedications of revenue, to appropriations, to local or special legislation, or to laws necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety . § 11.8 - Recall All elected public officials in the State, except judicial officers, are subject to recall by the voters of the State or political subdivision from which elected . Procedures and grounds for recall shall be prescribed by the legislature . ARTICLE XI - INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM, AND RECALL

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