Alaska Statutes
Alaska Stat. § 15.05.020 (2026)
Rules for determining residence of voter
✓ current as of July 2026
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Sec. 15.05.020. Rules for determining residence of voter.
For the purpose of determining residence for voting, the place of residence is governed by the following rules:
(1) A person may not be considered to have gained a residence solely by reason of presence nor may a person lose it solely by reason of absence while in the civil or military service of this state or of the United States or of absence because of marriage to a person engaged in the civil or military service of this state or the United States, while a student at an institution of learning, while in an institution or asylum at public expense, while confined in public prison, while engaged in the navigation of waters of this state or the United States or of the high seas, while residing upon an Indian or military reservation, or while residing in the Alaska Pioneers' Home or the Alaska Veterans' Home.
(2) The residence of a person is that place in which the person's habitation is fixed, and to which, whenever absent, the person has the intention to return. If a person resides in one place, but does business in another, the former is the person's place of residence. Temporary work sites do not constitute a dwelling place.
(3) A change of residence is made only by the act of removal joined with the intent to remain in another place. There can only be one residence.
(4) A person does not lose residence if the person leaves home and goes to another country, state, or place in this state for temporary purposes only and with the intent of returning.
(5) A person does not gain residence in any place to which the person comes without the present intention to establish a permanent dwelling at that place.
(6) A person loses residence in this state if the person votes in another state's election, either in person or by absentee ballot, and will not be eligible to vote in this state until again qualifying under AS 15.05.010.
(7) The term of residence is computed by including the day on which the person's residence begins and excluding the day of election.
(8) The address of a voter as it appears on the official voter registration record is presumptive evidence of the person's voting residence. This presumption is negated only if the voter notifies the director in writing of a change of voting residence.
For the purpose of determining residence for voting, the place of residence is governed by the following rules:
(1) A person may not be considered to have gained a residence solely by reason of presence nor may a person lose it solely by reason of absence while in the civil or military service of this state or of the United States or of absence because of marriage to a person engaged in the civil or military service of this state or the United States, while a student at an institution of learning, while in an institution or asylum at public expense, while confined in public prison, while engaged in the navigation of waters of this state or the United States or of the high seas, while residing upon an Indian or military reservation, or while residing in the Alaska Pioneers' Home or the Alaska Veterans' Home.
(2) The residence of a person is that place in which the person's habitation is fixed, and to which, whenever absent, the person has the intention to return. If a person resides in one place, but does business in another, the former is the person's place of residence. Temporary work sites do not constitute a dwelling place.
(3) A change of residence is made only by the act of removal joined with the intent to remain in another place. There can only be one residence.
(4) A person does not lose residence if the person leaves home and goes to another country, state, or place in this state for temporary purposes only and with the intent of returning.
(5) A person does not gain residence in any place to which the person comes without the present intention to establish a permanent dwelling at that place.
(6) A person loses residence in this state if the person votes in another state's election, either in person or by absentee ballot, and will not be eligible to vote in this state until again qualifying under AS 15.05.010.
(7) The term of residence is computed by including the day on which the person's residence begins and excluding the day of election.
(8) The address of a voter as it appears on the official voter registration record is presumptive evidence of the person's voting residence. This presumption is negated only if the voter notifies the director in writing of a change of voting residence.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8
cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1972–2024 · leading case: Liz Vazquez, Chris Duke, Randy Eledge, Steve Strait, & Kathryn Werdahl v. Lt. Governor Nancy Dahlstrom, in her Off. Capacity as Lt. Governor for the State of Alaska, Michaela Thompson, in her Off. Capacity as Acting Dir. of the Div. of Elections, & Jennie Armstrong, 544 P.3d 1178 (Alaska 2024).
Liz Vazquez, Chris Duke, Randy Eledge, Steve Strait, & Kathryn Werdahl v. Lt. Governor Nancy Dahlstrom, in her Off. Capacity as Lt. Governor for the State of Alaska, Michaela Thompson, in her Off. Capacity as Acting Dir. of the Div. of Elections, & Jennie Armstrong, 544 P.3d 1178 (Alaska 2024). “055 as a source of general residency requirements for all persons, and to AS 15.05.020 and 15.25.043 as providing specific 1 2022 General Election Official Results Summary Report, Nov.”
Cissna v. Stout, 931 P.2d 363 (Alaska 1996). “015 and AS 15.05.020(10). Alaska Statute 15.05.020 sets forth the procedures for determining the residence of a voter.”
Willis v. Thomas, 600 P.2d 1079 (Alaska 1979). “Under AS 15.05.020(1) No person may be considered to have gained a residence solely by reason of his presence nor may he lose it solely by reason of his absence while in the civil or military service of this state or of the United States or of his absence because of marriage to…”
Fischer v. Stout, 741 P.2d 217 (Alaska 1987). “AS 15.05.020(10) provides: The address of a voter as it appears on his official voter registration card is presumptive evidence of the person’s voting residence.”
Egan v. Hammond, 502 P.2d 856 (Alaska 1972). “" [6] In support of this argument, petitioners cite AS 15.05.020. The 1971 Reapportionment Plan includes Coast Guard Personnel, 3,752 resident aliens, and all military dependents.”
Lance Pruitt v. State of Alaska, Div. of Elections, & Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer & Dir. Gail Fenumiai, in their Off. Capacities & Elizabeth Hodges Snyder, Intervenor, 526 P.3d 136 (Alaska 2023). “3 See AS 15.05.020 (explaining that absence from a place will not defeat residency so long as person has intention to return).”
Dodge v. Meyer, 444 P.3d 159 (Alaska 2019). “But AS 15.05.020 explicitly provides that the address on the official voter registration record must be presumed valid unless the voter provides written notice of a change of address.”
Miller v. North Pole City Council, 532 P.2d 1013 (Alaska 1975). “2(a) of the North Pole Home Rule Charter, we note at this time our agreement with the trial court’s finding that AS 15.05.020(10) does not apply to municipal elections.”
— Alaska Stat. § 15.05.020(1) — 1 case
Willis v. Thomas, 600 P.2d 1079 (Alaska 1979). “Under AS 15.05.020(1) No person may be considered to have gained a residence solely by reason of his presence nor may he lose it solely by reason of his absence while in the civil or military service of this state or of the United States or of his absence because of marriage to…”
— Alaska Stat. § 15.05.020(10) — 4 cases
Cissna v. Stout, 931 P.2d 363 (Alaska 1996). “015 and AS 15.05.020(10). Alaska Statute 15.05.020 sets forth the procedures for determining the residence of a voter.”
Willis v. Thomas, 600 P.2d 1079 (Alaska 1979). “Under AS 15.05.020(1) No person may be considered to have gained a residence solely by reason of his presence nor may he lose it solely by reason of his absence while in the civil or military service of this state or of the United States or of his absence because of marriage to…”
Fischer v. Stout, 741 P.2d 217 (Alaska 1987). “AS 15.05.020(10) provides: The address of a voter as it appears on his official voter registration card is presumptive evidence of the person’s voting residence.”
Miller v. North Pole City Council, 532 P.2d 1013 (Alaska 1975). “2(a) of the North Pole Home Rule Charter, we note at this time our agreement with the trial court’s finding that AS 15.05.020(10) does not apply to municipal elections.”
— Alaska Stat. § 15.05.020(2) — 3 cases
Fischer v. Stout, 741 P.2d 217 (Alaska 1987). “AS 15.05.020(10) provides: The address of a voter as it appears on his official voter registration card is presumptive evidence of the person’s voting residence.”
Liz Vazquez, Chris Duke, Randy Eledge, Steve Strait, & Kathryn Werdahl v. Lt. Governor Nancy Dahlstrom, in her Off. Capacity as Lt. Governor for the State of Alaska, Michaela Thompson, in her Off. Capacity as Acting Dir. of the Div. of Elections, & Jennie Armstrong, 544 P.3d 1178 (Alaska 2024). “055 as a source of general residency requirements for all persons, and to AS 15.05.020 and 15.25.043 as providing specific 1 2022 General Election Official Results Summary Report, Nov.”
Dodge v. Meyer, 444 P.3d 159 (Alaska 2019). “But AS 15.05.020 explicitly provides that the address on the official voter registration record must be presumed valid unless the voter provides written notice of a change of address.”
— Alaska Stat. § 15.05.020(3) — 1 case
Liz Vazquez, Chris Duke, Randy Eledge, Steve Strait, & Kathryn Werdahl v. Lt. Governor Nancy Dahlstrom, in her Off. Capacity as Lt. Governor for the State of Alaska, Michaela Thompson, in her Off. Capacity as Acting Dir. of the Div. of Elections, & Jennie Armstrong, 544 P.3d 1178 (Alaska 2024). “055 as a source of general residency requirements for all persons, and to AS 15.05.020 and 15.25.043 as providing specific 1 2022 General Election Official Results Summary Report, Nov.”
— Alaska Stat. § 15.05.020(8) — 1 case
Dodge v. Meyer, 444 P.3d 159 (Alaska 2019). “But AS 15.05.020 explicitly provides that the address on the official voter registration record must be presumed valid unless the voter provides written notice of a change of address.”
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