Initiative Petition
Initiative means a ballot proposition presented to the voters after submission of petitions signed by a specified number of qualified voters to determine whether an ordinance or resolution shall be enacted directly by popular vote. -
AMC 2.50.010
The 2024 Regular Mayoral Election established the current number of qualified voters required to file a petition for initiative or referendum at 7,225. - Anchorage Municipal Charter Section 3.02.(a)
Initiative Petition Application Form (PDF)
Municipal Code References:
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Anchorage Municipal Charter Section 3.02 - Initiative and referendum.
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Anchorage Municipal Code Chapter 2.50 - Initiatives, Referenda, and Recall
Basic Steps for Submitting an Initiative or Referenda Petition:
* The information contained on this page should not be considered a substitute for reading the Municipal Code and regulations in their entirety.
1. Provide two petition sponsors: a primary sponsor and an alternate sponsor.
| 2. Prepare petition language.
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3. On the application form, collect 10 signatures from qualified municipal voters who agree to act as sponsors, also known as signature collectors.
| 4. Submit the petition application to the Municipal Clerk's Office for review.
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1. Municipal Clerk will verify that all sponsors are qualified municipal voters.
| 2. Municipal Attorney will review the petition language for legal sufficiency, or lack thereof.
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3. If all sponsors are qualified municipal voters and the measure proposed may be submitted to voters, then the Municipal Clerk shall certify the application for a petition and notify the primary and alternate sponsors. (See directly below for petition circulation information.)
| 4. If the sponsors cannot be verified and/or the measure proposed may not be submitted to voters, then the Municipal Clerk must deny the application for a petition and notify the primary and alternate sponsors. (See bottom of page for additional petition denial information.) |
1. Municipal Clerk prepares the legal size 8 1/2" x 14" petition master form to gather signatures. The Municipal Clerk shall not be responsible for reproducing copies of the master form.
| 2. Petition sponsors circulate petition. Signatures must be obtained and filed with the Municipal Clerk within 90 days from the date the Clerk's Office issued the petition master form. After signatures are submitted, the petition may not be supplemented.
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3. The Municipal Clerk verifies the signatures to determine if signers are qualified municipal voters and have provided all required information.
| 4.Within ten days from the filing of a petition, the Municipal Clerk shall determine whether the petition is sufficient; certification of the petition shall be granted or denied solely based on whether a sufficient number of signatures of qualified voters on the petition was timely submitted. The Municipal Clerk will notify the primary and alternate sponsors in writing if the petition is certified or denied.
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| If the petition is certified, it will proceed to being placed on the ballot. Further questions should be directed to the Municipal Clerk. | If the petition is denied, there is a 10-day opportunity to rubut. The Primary Sponsor shall provide the Municipal Clerk with clear and convincing evidence that signatures not counted were in fact signatures of qualified voters. |
...if the Petition Application is Denied
1. If petition application is denied, sponsors may appeal to the Superior Court of the State of Alaska.
| 2. Failure to appeal within 30 days shall constitute a waiver of the right to appeal.
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Referendum Petition
Referendum means a ballot proposition presented to the voters after submission of petitions signed by a specified number of qualified voters to determine whether an ordinance or resolution already approved shall be repealed by popular vote. - AMC 2.50.010
Referendum Petition Application Form (PDF)
Municipal Code References:
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Anchorage Municipal Charter Section 3.02 - Initiative and referendum.
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Anchorage Municipal Code (AMC) Chapter 2.50 - Initiatives, Referenda, and Recall
How to Submit an Initiative or Referenda Petition:
* The information contained on this page should not be considered a substitute for reading the Municipal Code and regulations in their entirety.
1. Provide two petition sponsors: a primary sponsor and an alternate sponsor.
| 2. Prepare petition language.
|
3. On the application form, collect 10 signatures from qualified municipal voters who agree to act as sponsors, also known as signature collectors.
| 4. Submit the petition application to the Municipal Clerk's Office for review.
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1. Municipal Clerk will verify that all sponsors are qualified municipal voters.
| 2. Municipal Attorney will review the petition language for legal sufficiency, or lack thereof.
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3. If all sponsors are qualified municipal voters and the measure proposed may be submitted to voters, then the Municipal Clerk shall certify the application for a petition and notify the primary and alternate sponsors. (See directly below for petition circulation information.)
| 4. If the sponsors cannot be verified and/or the measure proposed may not be submitted to voters, then the Municipal Clerk must deny the application for a petition and notify the primary and alternate sponsors. (See bottom of page for additional petition denial information.)
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1. Municipal Clerk prepares the legal size 8 1/2" x 14" petition master form to gather signatures. The Municipal Clerk shall not be responsible for reproducing copies of the master form.
| 2. Petition sponsors circulate petition. Signatures must be obtained and filed with the Municipal Clerk within 90 days from the date the Clerk's Office issued the petition master form. After signatures are submitted, the petition may not be supplemented.
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3. The Municipal Clerk verifies the signatures to determine if signers are qualified municipal voters and have provided all required information.
| 4.Within ten days from the filing of a petition, the Municipal Clerk shall determine whether the petition is sufficient; certification of the petition shall be granted or denied solely based on whether a sufficient number of signatures of qualified voters on the petition was timely submitted. The Municipal Clerk will notify the primary and alternate sponsors in writing if the petition is certified or denied.
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| If the petition is certified, it will proceed to being placed on the ballot. Further questions should be directed to the Municipal Clerk. | If the petition is denied, there is a 10-day opportunity to rubut. The Primary Sponsor shall provide the Municipal Clerk with clear and convincing evidence that signatures not counted were in fact signatures of qualified voters.
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...if the Petition Application is Denied
1. If petition application is denied, sponsors may appeal to the Superior Court of the State of Alaska.
| 2. Failure to appeal within 30 days shall constitute a waiver of the right to appeal.
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Recall Petition
An elected official may be recalled by the voters in the manner provided by law. Grounds for recall are misconduct in office, incompetence, or failure to perform prescribed duties. An elected Municipal Official may be recalled after serving the first 120 days in office.
The clerk shall determine the number of signatures required per AS 29.26.280(b).
Recall Petition Application Form (PDF)
Municipal Code and State Statute References:
Basic Steps for Submitting a Recall Petition:
* The information contained on this page should not be considered a substitute for reading the Municipal Code, State Statutes, and regulations in their entirety.
1. Provide two petition sponsors: a primary sponsor and an alternate sponsor. And collect 10 signatures from qualified municipal voters who agree to act as sponsors, also known as signature collectors.
| 2. Provide a statement in 200 words or less of the grounds for recall stated with particularity.
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3. Submit the petition application to the Municipal Clerk's Office for review.
| 4. Additional sponsors may be added at any time before the petition is filed by submitting the name. |
1. Municipal Clerk will verify that all sponsors are qualified municipal voters.
| 2. If the application meets the requirements, the Municipal Clerk shall prepare a recall petition.
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1. Municipal Clerk prepares the petition form to gather signatures. Copies of the petition shall be provided by the Municipal Clerk to each sponsor who requests a petition form.
| 2. Petition sponsors circulate petition. Signatures must be obtained and filed, as one instrument, with the Municipal Clerk within 60 days after the date the Clerk's Office issued the petition form.
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3. The Municipal Clerk verifies the signatures to determine if signers are qualified municipal voters and have provided all required information.
| 4. Within ten days from the filing of a petition, the Municipal Clerk shall determine whether the petition is sufficient. The Municipal Clerk will notify the primary and alternate sponsors in writing if the petition is sufficient or insufficient.
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| If the petition is sufficient, it will proceed to being placed on the ballot. Further questions should be directed to the Municipal Clerk. | If the petition is insufficient, the petition may be supplemented with additional signatures obtained and filed before the 11th day after the date of rejection. If it is still insufficient, the petition is rejected and filed as a public record.
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