Tensions over PFD fuel talks of a new constitutional convention. Alaskans will vote on whether that

Next year, Alaska voters will decide whether to hold a new constitutional convention. They’ve rejected similar questions over the past 50 years. But anger over the Permanent Fund dividend is fueling talk of overhauling the Alaska Constitution.

Today’s circumstances are very different from those when the first constitutional convention and some — including the last surviving delegate from then — say now is not the time for another one.

In 1955, Alaska wasn’t yet a state. But people in the Territory of Alaska knew that writing a constitution would be a step toward statehood. And so, in November, 55 delegates met at the University of Alaska Fairbanks to write one.

It took three months. They found a lot of inspiration in the federal constitutional convention — there were 55 delegates in Philadelphia in 1787 too.

Read more: https://www.alaskapublic.org/2021/11/19/tensions-over-pfd-fuel-talks-of-a-new-constitutional-convention-alaskans-will-vote-on-whether-that-time-has-come/