Alaska Statutes
Alaska Stat. § 15.13.020 (2026)
Alaska Public Offices Commission
✓ current as of July 2026
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Sec. 15.13.020. Alaska Public Offices Commission.
(a) There is created in the Department of Administration the Alaska Public Offices Commission consisting of five members. The governor shall appoint all members of the commission in the manner prescribed in (b) and (c) of this section, subject to confirmation by a majority of the legislature meeting in joint session.
(b) The governor shall appoint two members of each of the two political parties or political groups with the largest number of registered voters at the time of the most recent preceding general election at which a governor was elected. The two appointees from each of these two parties or groups shall be chosen from a list of four names to be submitted by the central committee of each party or group.
(c) The four members selected under (b) of this section shall, by a majority vote, nominate to the governor an individual to serve as the fifth member of the commission. The governor shall either appoint the nominee to the commission, or shall reject the nominee and request those four members to nominate another individual to serve as the fifth member of the commission.
(d) Members of the commission serve staggered terms of five years, or until a successor is appointed and qualifies. The terms of no two members who are members of the same political party or political group may expire in consecutive years. A member may not serve more than one term. However, a person appointed to fill the unexpired term of a predecessor may be appointed to a successive full five-year term.
(e) A member of the commission, during tenure, may not
(1) hold or campaign for elective office;
(2) be an officer of a political party, political committee, or group;
(3) permit the member's name to be used, or make any contributions whatsoever, in support of or in opposition to a candidate or proposition or question that appears on any ballot in the state, including that of a municipality; however, contributions may be made to a candidate for the office of President of the United States;
(4) participate in any way in an election campaign or participate in or contribute to any political party; or
(5) lobby, employ, or assist a lobbyist.
(f) Members of the commission shall receive compensation of $50 a day while attending commission meetings and shall be entitled to travel expenses and per diem authorized by law for members of other boards and commissions.
(g) The members shall elect a chairperson. Three members of the commission constitute a quorum. A vacancy does not impair the powers of the remaining members to exercise all of the powers of the commission.
(h) A vacancy on the commission shall be filled through the appropriate appointing method for the position within 30 days after the occurrence of the vacancy. Except as provided in AS 39.05.080(4), the appointee shall serve for the remaining term of the appointee's predecessor.
(i) The commission may employ an executive director and other employees it considers necessary. Neither the executive director nor an employee may have a vote.
(j) The commission shall establish an office, which may be called a regional office, in each senate district in the state to keep on file for public inspection copies of all reports filed with the commission by candidates for statewide office and by candidates for legislative office in that district; however, where one municipality contains more than one house district, only one commission office shall be established in that municipality. The regional office shall make all forms and pertinent material available to candidates. All reports shall be filed by candidates, groups, and individuals directly with the commission's central district office. The commission shall ensure that copies of all reports by statewide and legislative candidates in each senate district are forwarded promptly to that district or regional office.
(k) The commission shall ensure that copies of reports filed by candidates for municipal office are made available for public inspection in the appropriate municipality.
(a) There is created in the Department of Administration the Alaska Public Offices Commission consisting of five members. The governor shall appoint all members of the commission in the manner prescribed in (b) and (c) of this section, subject to confirmation by a majority of the legislature meeting in joint session.
(b) The governor shall appoint two members of each of the two political parties or political groups with the largest number of registered voters at the time of the most recent preceding general election at which a governor was elected. The two appointees from each of these two parties or groups shall be chosen from a list of four names to be submitted by the central committee of each party or group.
(c) The four members selected under (b) of this section shall, by a majority vote, nominate to the governor an individual to serve as the fifth member of the commission. The governor shall either appoint the nominee to the commission, or shall reject the nominee and request those four members to nominate another individual to serve as the fifth member of the commission.
(d) Members of the commission serve staggered terms of five years, or until a successor is appointed and qualifies. The terms of no two members who are members of the same political party or political group may expire in consecutive years. A member may not serve more than one term. However, a person appointed to fill the unexpired term of a predecessor may be appointed to a successive full five-year term.
(e) A member of the commission, during tenure, may not
(1) hold or campaign for elective office;
(2) be an officer of a political party, political committee, or group;
(3) permit the member's name to be used, or make any contributions whatsoever, in support of or in opposition to a candidate or proposition or question that appears on any ballot in the state, including that of a municipality; however, contributions may be made to a candidate for the office of President of the United States;
(4) participate in any way in an election campaign or participate in or contribute to any political party; or
(5) lobby, employ, or assist a lobbyist.
(f) Members of the commission shall receive compensation of $50 a day while attending commission meetings and shall be entitled to travel expenses and per diem authorized by law for members of other boards and commissions.
(g) The members shall elect a chairperson. Three members of the commission constitute a quorum. A vacancy does not impair the powers of the remaining members to exercise all of the powers of the commission.
(h) A vacancy on the commission shall be filled through the appropriate appointing method for the position within 30 days after the occurrence of the vacancy. Except as provided in AS 39.05.080(4), the appointee shall serve for the remaining term of the appointee's predecessor.
(i) The commission may employ an executive director and other employees it considers necessary. Neither the executive director nor an employee may have a vote.
(j) The commission shall establish an office, which may be called a regional office, in each senate district in the state to keep on file for public inspection copies of all reports filed with the commission by candidates for statewide office and by candidates for legislative office in that district; however, where one municipality contains more than one house district, only one commission office shall be established in that municipality. The regional office shall make all forms and pertinent material available to candidates. All reports shall be filed by candidates, groups, and individuals directly with the commission's central district office. The commission shall ensure that copies of all reports by statewide and legislative candidates in each senate district are forwarded promptly to that district or regional office.
(k) The commission shall ensure that copies of reports filed by candidates for municipal office are made available for public inspection in the appropriate municipality.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7
cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1977–2026 · leading case: RBG Bush Planes, LLC v. Kirk, 340 P.3d 1056 (Alaska 2015).
RBG Bush Planes, LLC v. Kirk, 340 P.3d 1056 (Alaska 2015). “AS 15.13.020. 2 . AS 15.13.030; see also Alaska Right to Life Comm.”
Silides v. Thomas, 559 P.2d 80 (Alaska 1977). “Assuming arguendo that estoppel is available against the Lieutenant Governor, we are of the view and so hold that the Lieutenant Governor did in fact comply with AS 15.13.020(j). 25 AS 15.13.020(j) requires forms to be made available in a regional office in each senate district.”
State v. Alaska Democratic Party, 426 P.3d 901 (Alaska 2018). “170 (poll watchers); AS 15.13.020(b) (Alaska Public Offices Commission); AS 15.”
Alaska Pub. Offices Comm'n v. Not Tammie & Citizens for Clean Air - No On Proposition 1, 482 P.3d 386 (Alaska 2021). “” See AS 15.13.020(i) (prohibiting staff members from voting on commission matters); AS 15.”
Repub. Governors Ass'n v. Alaska Pub. Offices Comm'n & Walker Mallot for Alaska, 485 P.3d 545 (Alaska 2021). “”2 All entities are required to 1 See AS 15.13.020 (establishing Commission); AS 15.”
Repub. Governors Ass'n; A Stronger Alaska; & Erim Canligil & Dave Rexrode, in their Off. capacities v. Heather Hebdon, in an Off. capacity as Exec. Dir. of the Alaska Pub. Offices Comm'n (Alaska 2025). “2 The law does not limit the amount of money that may be 1 AS 15.13.020; AS 15.13.030. 2 AS 15.13.040; AS 15.”
Alaska Policy Forum v. Alaska Pub. Offices Comm'n; Yes on 2 for Better Elections; & Protect My Ballot (Alaska 2026). “3 AS 15.13.020; AS 15.13.030. 4 See AS 15.13.”
— Alaska Stat. § 15.13.020(a) — 1 case
RBG Bush Planes, LLC v. Kirk, 340 P.3d 1056 (Alaska 2015). “AS 15.13.020. 2 . AS 15.13.030; see also Alaska Right to Life Comm.”
— Alaska Stat. § 15.13.020(b) — 1 case
State v. Alaska Democratic Party, 426 P.3d 901 (Alaska 2018). “170 (poll watchers); AS 15.13.020(b) (Alaska Public Offices Commission); AS 15.”
— Alaska Stat. § 15.13.020(g) — 1 case
RBG Bush Planes, LLC v. Kirk, 340 P.3d 1056 (Alaska 2015). “AS 15.13.020. 2 . AS 15.13.030; see also Alaska Right to Life Comm.”
— Alaska Stat. § 15.13.020(i) — 1 case
Alaska Pub. Offices Comm'n v. Not Tammie & Citizens for Clean Air - No On Proposition 1, 482 P.3d 386 (Alaska 2021). “” See AS 15.13.020(i) (prohibiting staff members from voting on commission matters); AS 15.”
— Alaska Stat. § 15.13.020(j) — 1 case
Silides v. Thomas, 559 P.2d 80 (Alaska 1977). “Assuming arguendo that estoppel is available against the Lieutenant Governor, we are of the view and so hold that the Lieutenant Governor did in fact comply with AS 15.13.020(j). 25 AS 15.13.020(j) requires forms to be made available in a regional office in each senate district.”
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