Miller v. Treadwell
245 P.3d 867
Alaska2010Background
- Election held November 2, 2010 for Alaska's U.S. Senate seat; Miller challenged Division of Elections' vote-counting decisions in superior court, Murkowski intervened seeking broader challenges; Superior Court Judge Carey upheld the Division's actions; Miller and Murkowski appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court; core issues centered on vote counting, voter intent, and statutory interpretation of AS 15.15.360 and related regulations; the court recognized longstanding Alaska election principles prioritizing voter intent and preventing disenfranchisement.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Write-in ballot validity and voter intent under AS 15.15.360 | Miller: strict spelling required; disqualify misspellings | Murkowski/State: statute inclusive; count ballots by voter intent | Voter intent prevails; minor variations disregarded if intent ascertainable |
| Manual count vs. optical scanning procedures | Division's method violates 6 AAC 25.085 and equal protection | Manual count necessary; scanner does not segregate ballots; method uniform | Manual count valid; no equal protection violation; procedures uniformly applied |
| Whether Division's vote-counting framework constitutes a regulation under the APA | Division's interpretations are regulations requiring APA rulemaking | Interpretations are common-sense statutory interpretations, not regulations | Division's interpretations did not require APA rulemaking |
| Dismissal of certain vote categories (unidentified voters, multiple ballots) | Claims warrant election contest or recount; discovery needed | Claims fall outside proper avenues (contest/recount) and lack proof of material misconduct | Affirmed dismissal of those categories; no change to certification |
Key Cases Cited
- Carr v. Thomas, 586 P.2d 622 (Alaska 1978) (disfavored disenfranchisement; upholds voter intent)
- Dansereau v. Ulmer, 903 P.2d 555 (Alaska 1995) (voter intent paramount; fundamental democratic principle)
- Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 (U.S. 2000) (emphasizes equal weight of votes and voter intent)
- Edgmon v. State, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Division of Elections, 152 P.3d 1154 (Alaska 2007) (voter intent; ballot disputes)
- Willis v. Thomas, 600 P.2d 1079 (Alaska 1979) (distinguishes recount & contest procedures; framework for review)