The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for June 25, 2024
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
Last year we reported on accusations of a pastor using his Alaskan church to funnel money to an anti-ranked choice voting group. Most fines levied by the State of Alaska for not fully disclosing the donation were upheld last week, and a separate case challenging the repeal initiative it supported will be heard this week.
The Alaska Public Offices Commission levied $94,000 in fines last year against Arthur Mathias, pastor of Wellspring Fellowship of Alaska and president of the church affiliated Ranked Choice Education Association. Mathias used Ranked Choice Education Association to contribute $90,000 to Alaskans for Honest Elections, a political group trying to repeal 2020’s Ballot Measure 2. Measure 2 implemented ranked choice voting, open primaries, a top 4 Congressional system, and protections against dark money donations.
Alaska’s “true source” campaign donation statutes require disclosure of the donation’s original source, limiting untraceable dark money in campaigns. The Alaska Beacon reports that Mathias argued the fines were an unconstitutional impingement of free speech. Judge Laura Hartz disagreed, writing, “There is no constitutional right to make anonymous contributions for the purpose of influencing the outcome of an election.”
In a separate case this week, the group supporting Measure 2 challenges the validity of the repeal initiative, claiming Mathias and others violated signature-gathering requirements.
We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
BallotPedia – Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting and Campaign Finance Laws Initiative (2020)
American Democracy Minute – (2023) Foes of Alaska’s Ranked Choice Voting Alleged to Have Used Church as a Front to Shield Disclosure of Donors
American Democracy Minute (2023) Investigation Expands Into Alleged Sketchy Behavior of Groups Trying to Repeal Alaska’s Ranked Choice Voting
Alaska Beacon – State judge upholds most fines against group seeking repeal of Alaska ranked choice voting
Alaska State Superior Court, Anchorage – Decision by Judge Laura Hartz
Anchorage Daily News – Judge upholds fines levied against ranked choice opponents for campaign finance violations
Anchorage Daily News – Lawsuit asserts Alaska elections officials illegally certified ballot question on ranked choice voting
Groups Taking Action:
Alaskans for Better Elections
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