Top two primary bill fails to move forward due to rushed Alaska Legislator | Democracy, elections, and voting at Democracy Chronicles

Alaska Legislature Adjourns without Passing Top Two Primary Bill

A conflicted Alaska legislature, fails to make change for the primaries, failing to get majority vote. From Ballot Access News:

The Alaska legislature adjourned on Sunday evening, April 14. HB 13, to establish a top-two primary, failed to pass. The legislature did pass HB 104 on the last day. It moves the primary from the fourth Tuesday in August to the third Tuesday in August. That has the effect of automatically moving the non-presidential independent candidate petition, since those petitions are due on primary day. But the bill has no effect on the deadline for presidential independent petitions.

The bill would change what the state does if a member of its congressional delegation vacates his or her office. A special election would be required between 60 to 90 days after the seat is vacated, but if no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a runoff election between the top two candidates would be held within 60 days of the special election.