State’s future at stake in 2014 elections

This editorial was originally printed in the Thursday edition of Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

As of the official filing deadline for state races on June 2, a total of 21 local candidates stepped forward to run for seats in the state Legislature. …

Having a choice in each race is vitally important to the health of the political process at every level. … If you’re registering to vote or need to update your registration, it’s best to do so sooner rather than later.

State election law requires that citizens register or make changes to their voter information a minimum of 30 days before the election in which they plan to vote. So for the primary election on Aug. 19, that deadline is now just six weeks away.

For those who don’t regularly vote in primary elections, we strongly suggest you reconsider that stance. In addition to the multiple races in which multiple candidates are running for their party’s nomination in the primary, the highest-profile ballot measure this year — oil tax reform — will appear in the primary rather than the general election. Given the lower turnout present in primary elections, especially during “off-cycle” election years, your vote will have considerably more power in August than you might think.

Important choices await in November as well. In addition to a gubernatorial race that is shaping up to have credible candidates from both parties as well as a strong independent campaign, Alaska’s U.S. Senate race could play a pivotal role in determining the balance of power in Washington, D.C.

If that weren’t enough, three issues of great import to the state and its people will be on the November ballot: marijuana legalization, a proposed increase to the state’s minimum wage, and a ban on mining projects that would impact stocks of wild salmon.

The elections this year are particularly important due to Alaska’s position: lower state revenues have provoked serious discussion and broad philosophical differences on the best way for the state to respond. The next state Legislature will be tasked with difficult decisions about how to chart a course back to prosperity — and how to manage the state’s budget until that day comes.

In addition, serious issues like education, resource development, and energy megaprojects like a natural gas pipeline and the Susitna-Watana hydroelectric dam will be back on the legislative agenda. How the state prioritizes its funding will have major effects for generations to come.

It’s a conversation that all Alaskans should be part of, and one of the most effective ways to express your voice in that conversation is to register and vote. The lack of a presidential race at the top of the ballot shouldn’t fool you into thinking these elections matter any less to our state’s future.