Navigating November: Ballot Measure Endorsements for a Thriving, Just Future
Hey yall,
Have you ever had the experience of going into the voting booth feeling prepared and ready, started filling out your bubbles oh-so-carefully, only to suddenly find that there’s a vote you didn’t prepare for? Me too!
Luckily, part of our job here at The Alaska Center is to help voters navigate the many questions we’ll all face this November. We’ve already emailed you (a lot) about our state legislative endorsements, but not yet about the ballot measures. We examine ballot measures through the same lens as candidates: what will lead us closer to our vision of a thriving, just, and sustainable future? With that vision in mind, our Board made endorsements on both ballot measures coming up on November 5th: Yes on 1 and No on 2!
Yes on 1 is a ballot measure to let Alaskans earn paid sick days, raise the minimum wage, and increase worker freedom. While employees of The Alaska Center and The Alaska Center Education Fund are privileged to already have these benefits (and many more!), 1 in 4 Alaskans don’t have a single paid sick day–that means thousands of Alaskans choosing between their paycheck and their family’s health. A just economy includes all of us and protects workers–this ballot measure is one step we can take towards that better future!
Ballot Measure 2 is an effort to repeal Alaska’s election system, and The Alaska Center (and The Alaska Center Education Fund!) has endorsed the No on 2 campaign. Ending open primaries strips away Alaskans’ freedom to vote for the best candidate regardless of party affiliation. Our endorsement recommendations don’t take party into account, and we know most Alaskans are the same with more than 60% of Alaskan voters not registered with a party. In 2022, we saw some of the most competitive races, with candidates that represented community members better than ever. This ballot measure is an attack on democracy, and voting NO is imperative to protecting it.
You can learn more about our ballot measure stances on our endorsement page. I hope you join us in voting Yes on 1 and No on 2!
All the best,
Jenny-Marie
Political Director
The Alaska Center
P.S. You know what’s on the ballot after the ballot measures? Judicial Retention Elections! We’ll talk more about this in a future blog–but if you want a preview, check out the information from Alaskans for Fair Courts to learn more!
