With election day less than two weeks away, we believe it is none too soon for Sitkans to give special attention to Ballot Measure 1 on the statewide ballot: “Shall there be a constitutional convention?”
The Legislature may call a constitutional convention at any time, but the 1956 Alaska constitution states that if none has been held the previous ten years, the question will go before the voters in an election.
A consideration of the issues at stake this year makes it more important than ever that Alaskans once again vote No, as they have done the five previous times the question was on the ballot.
A statewide coalition, “No on One : Defend Our Constitution” lists the reasons to vote No, and the main ones are (1) the Alaska constitution works, and already has provisions for amendment as needs arrive, and (2) a convention would create a chaos of competing special interests and threaten protections already in place.
Alaskans have much to be thankful for, a constitutional right to privacy for example, that would be the first target of the forces against women’s rights that are emerging since the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade.
The danger of opening the Alaska constitution to wholesale revision has been recognized by local governments and organizations across the state. Southeast Alaska especially has a major stake in preserving the stability of government under the protections of the constitution as it stands. Fishing organizations endorsing “No on One” include the Alaska Trollers Association, the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, the Southeast Seiners Association and the United Southeast Gillnetters Association.
The city governments and Chambers of Commerce of Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Ketchikan, and a host of smaller communities in Southeast Alaska are defending the constitution, as are Native corporations and unions representing workers in every facet of industry and society.
We can only make conjectures about the dangers that would result from opening the constitution to revision on issues ranging from abortion, to guns, climate change, environmental regulations, education, gay marriage, the ferry system and the PFD, but we can say with confidence that we are being well served by our constitution as it stands.
The Sentinel adds it voice to those of the people, the institutions, the organizations and the local governments throughout Alaska who have joined in saying No on One – Defend Our Constitution.
