Ballot Measure 3Say in the law that only U.S. citizens may vote
Read the full text of the measure: Division of Elections measure pages and Official Election Pamphlet
In plain words
Alaska law already limits voting to U.S. citizens, and sponsors and critics agree on that. This measure changes the wording to say that ONLY citizens may vote. Supporters say the new wording is clearer. Critics say it changes nothing in practice. The measure does not add ID rules, paperwork or registration steps, according to campaign materials. (elections.alaska.gov (Division of Elections) )
Before and after
| Question | Today | If it passes |
|---|---|---|
| Who may vote | 'A person may vote at any election who is a citizen of the United States' (plus age, residency and registration rules) | 'Only a person who is a citizen of the United States' (plus the same rules) 'may vote at any election' |
| Noncitizen voting in state elections | Already not allowed, per news reports | Not allowed (same) |
| ID, paperwork or registration steps | As they are now | Campaign materials say no change |
Numbers from the official ballot title (ballot title ); also see (news.ballotpedia.org )
Biggest change
- Says that only those who are United States citizens and meet the other requirements may vote. source: elections.alaska.gov (Division of Elections)
- Does not change the requirements to vote (the state’s own summary). source: elections.alaska.gov (Division of Elections)
Who it affects most: No voter is described as affected directly. Supporters say it matters for how courts or lawmakers read the rule in the future.
Cost to the state: The state’s own cost statement estimates $114,050 in total. That is $15,000 for the Lieutenant Governor’s office and $99,050 for the Division of Elections: $82,443 to review the petition, $1,605 to print voter booklets and $15,002 to translate the measure.
Our plain-words summary. Every line points to its source.
What your vote means
The voting law would say 'Only a person who is a citizen of the United States' may vote, instead of 'a person may vote'.
The voting law keeps its current wording; citizens can vote, and noncitizens already cannot.
Our one-line summary. Alaska does not publish an official "what your vote means" statement; the ballot title above is the official description.
Why people want it, and why others object
Why this is on the ballot
Voters put this on the ballot by signing a petition. It changes a state law, which lawmakers can later change. It passes with a simple majority of the votes cast on it.
- Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom announced on March 17, 2026 that 34,944 valid signatures across 40 House districts had been verified. The minimum was 34,098 across 30 districts. source: news.ballotpedia.org
- Supporters cite a 2023 state case in which a group of American Samoans (U.S. nationals, not citizens) were charged with voter misconduct in Whittier. Alaska does not currently allow noncitizen voting. source: alaskawatchman.com
- Similar citizenship-only measures are on the ballot in other states in 2026 (Ballotpedia News counts Alaska as the fifth). source: news.ballotpedia.org
Why supporters want it
- Statement in support, by the sponsors, former Sen. John Coghill Jr., former House Speaker Charles M. Chenault and former Sen. Joshua C. Revak: “Current law says citizens may vote, but it does not specifically state that only citizens may vote. This measure closes that gap and makes Alaska law unmistakably clear.” source: elections.alaska.gov (Division of Elections)
- Former state Sen. John Coghill, a sponsor, says the clearer wording would make plain that U.S. nationals cannot vote in Alaska. source: alaskawatchman.com
- Former state Sen. John Coghill and former House Speaker Mike Chenault told the Anchorage Daily News the measure sends a message that Alaska does not tolerate noncitizen voting (as reported by The Alaska Current). source: thealaskacurrent.com
- The Alaskans for Citizen Voting campaign says a clear rule on who may vote is a stabilizing safeguard. source: news.ballotpedia.org
Why opponents object
- State Sen. Bill Wielechowski (Democrat): the measure 'has no realistic impact on the current law at all' (Wielechowski also called it anti-immigrant), per The Alaska Current. source: thealaskacurrent.com
- Journalist Stan Jones argues Alaska already requires voters to be citizens and that no bill, court case or town is challenging that rule. source: news.ballotpedia.org
Who backs each side
- For: the initiative’s sponsors, John Coghill, Mike Chenault and Josh Revak, wrote the pamphlet’s statement in support. Against: the pamphlet says no one submitted a statement in opposition. Campaign committees and money are on file with the Alaska Public Offices Commission; we have not yet read those reports. source: elections.alaska.gov (Division of Elections)
In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.
What you will see on your ballot
Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)
The official ballot title, word for word from the Division of Elections' official ballot measure pages .
25USCV - An Act Addressing Voter Qualification
Alaska law requires that someone must be a United States citizen and meet other requirements to vote. This act would specify that only those who are United States citizens and meet the other requirements may vote. This act would not change the requirements to vote.
Should this initiative become law?
Yes
No
Word for word from the ballot language in the Division of Elections’ Official Election Pamphlet (Region 3), ballot language and sample ballot.
Latest news
Recent reporting from a range of outlets, newest first. We link to it; we don't endorse it.
No articles collected yet for this measure.
Full text of the measure
The pamphlet pages hold the ballot language, the state’s summary and cost statement, the full text of the proposed law, and both signed statements. Read it in the Division of Elections measure pages and Official Election Pamphlet .
Read more
- Alaska Division of Elections: Official Election Pamphlet, Region 3
- Ballotpedia News: Alaska becomes fifth state with a citizenship measure
- Alaska Watchman: what Measure 3 would do (reflects supporters' arguments)
- The Alaska Current: everything to know about the 2026 measures
We link to analysis from several sources; we don't endorse it.