Opinion ID: 765960
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Alaskan Independence Party

Text: 26 In support of its argument that the district court erred in finding that this action is not ripe, the minor parties point to the AIP's adoption of Bylaw 5.15, which provides: In any election for public office where the Alaskan Independence Party is authorized by law to nominate a candidate, the State Committee shall be empowered to present a nominee in the name of the Alaskan Independence Party, or to reject any candidate not an Alaskan. The minor parties argue that this conflicts with Alaska Statute S 15.25.030, which allows candidate self-selection by filing a declaration of candidacy. However, as recognized by the district court, this bylaw only comes into play if state law authorizes the party to nominate a candidate. For example, if an unopposed incumbent candidate dies, becomes incapacitated, or is disqualified, that candidate's place on the ballot may be filled through a party petition. See O'Callaghan, 914 P.2d at 1255 n.6; Alaska Stat. SS 15.25.056, 15.25.110 (Michie 1989). Under those circumstances, the nominee would be selected by the party's central committee or by a manner prescribed in the bylaws. See Alaska Stat. S 15.25.130 (Michie 1989). This is the situation addressed by Bylaw 5.15. However, this is the only circumstance where the AIP would be authorized by law to nominate a candidate--in all other cases the eligible voters of Alaska would do so. See Alaska Stat. S 15.25.010 (Michie 1989) (Candidates for the elective state executive and state and national legislative offices shall be nominated in a primary election by direct vote of the people in the manner prescribed by this chapter.). Therefore, Bylaw 5.15 does not conflict with Alaska laws providing for a blanket primary. 27 The minor parties also cite Article IX, Section 9.02 of the AIP rules as being in conflict with state law. This section provides that: 28 The fact that a voter has voted in the Alaskan Independence Party Primary Election shall not disqualify that voter from voting in the primary election of any other political party or parties where that voter's participation in the primary election of the Alaskan Independence Party is authorized or permitted by the rules of the other party, or by the statutes of the United States or the State of Alaska. 29 The minor parties argue that this rule requires that a voter be able to vote for a candidate of his party and also a candidate of another party for the same office, and that this conflicts with Alaska's blanket primary laws. However, there is nothing in the language of Section 9.02 which supports such a construction. In fact, this rule actually supports a blanket primary. Under this rule, just as in a blanket primary, voting for an AIP candidate for Governor would not disqualify a voter from voting for a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. However, there is nothing in the rule that specifies that the voter must be allowed to vote for both parties' candidates for Governor, and therefore the rule does not conflict with Alaska's laws providing for a blanket primary. 30 Because the minor parties have failed to identify any AIP rules which conflict with the State's blanket primary system and do not present any other evidence of an actual case or controversy associated with thatparty, we conclude that the AIP's claims must be dismissed for lack of ripeness.