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Green Party of Alaska

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PRESS RELEASE February 10, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COURT TELLS STATE TO RECOGNIZE GREENS AS PARTY

Contact: Jim Sykes 745-6962 for questions or interviews

The Green Party will be able to enter the 2006 election cycle as fully recognized as other political parties by Court Order. Superior Court Judge Stephanie Joannides granted a preliminary injunction that prevents the State of Alaska from denying the Green Party equal benefits accorded to other Alaska political parties. Elections Advisor Jim Sykes said, "This is the second time the courts have struck down unfair legislative tampering with election laws that recognize political parties."

The Green Party challenged the law that restricts a ballot test of 3% to only one statewide
race--3% of the vote in the Governor's race. If there's no Governor's race, 3% in the U.S. Senate
race. If there is neither a Governor's race or US Senate race, then 3% in the U.S. House race.
Sykes added, "The idea that only one statewide race can qualify in a certain year doesn't pass
the 'red-face' test. The 1998 Governor's race attracted the fewest number of voters of three
statewide races."

Sykes stated, "The Greens are the only small party in Alaska that has received more than 3% in
a statewide political race every general election since 1990. Any one of those election results
should be more than sufficient to meet the "modicum of support" test that is the basis for
the law."

The judge agreed that if the Green Party were to win a U.S. Senate or U.S. House race and did not get 3% in the year of a Governor's race, they would still be denied political party
recognition. "That's how absurd this law is," said Sykes. "The Republican majority took a bad
2002 law and made it even worse in 2003."

Sykes added, "Reasonable political party requirements passed the House last year but they
were stripped out by the last Senate committee. This year, I hope the legislature will restore
the fair legislative proposal intended to replace this ridiculous law."

NOTE: Case No. 3AN-05-10787CI