JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - It’s official: the three initiatives that had been slated to appear on this year’s primary ballot have been bumped to November after lawmakers went into extended session Monday.
State election officials confirmed the change affecting initiatives on legalization of recreational marijuana, a minimum wage increase and requiring legislative approval for a large-scale metallic sulfide mining operation in the Bristol Bay region.
A legislative attorney has said statutory and constitutional provisions require that at least 120 days pass after the regular session adjourns before the day of the election for purposes of initiative placement. A law passed last year moved up the primary date in even-numbered years by one week, putting it at Aug. 19 this year.
The referendum on Alaska’s oil tax structure will still appear on the primary ballot.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.