AK HB196

Establishes comprehensive election security measures including ballot tracking systems with blockchain technology, chain-of-custody protocols, and digital multi-factor authentication for voters.

Requires voter registration applications to include citizenship statements certified under penalty of perjury and removes hunting/fishing licenses as acceptable identification.

Creates new criminal penalties: Class A misdemeanor for collecting ballots from other voters (maximum 6 per election), Class C felony for tampering with sealed ballots or election data, Class B felony for election fraud causing outcome changes.

Mandates biennial audits of voter registration master register by external experts with published reports identifying irregularities, and requires ballots/election data retention for 22 months.

Restricts absentee ballot counting to begin at 8:00 p.m. on election day, requires USPS tracking barcodes for late-arriving ballots, and limits late ballot acceptance to seventh day after election (reduced from 10th day).