HB120 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve HurstRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Elections, election officers, Legislature by local law authorized to appoint alternate election officers, Sec. 17-8-1 am'd.; Act 2009-638, 2009 Reg. Sess. am'd.

Summary

HB120 lets counties use local laws to appoint alternate election officials to help staff polling places, with limits and pay rules.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends the election staffing law to authorize appointing alternate election officials under local law and sets limits on how many officials can be appointed without county commission approval. It explains how to adjust the total number of officials if precincts, polling places, or voting equipment change, and allows local law to set the number of alternates and their pay, within specified caps. It also allows alternates to be used when regular staff are unavailable, and specifies eligibility rules and reimbursement for their expenses.

Who It Affects

• County and local election boards: can appoint alternate election officials under local law, within caps and with county commission consent when necessary.
• Alternate election workers (from within the county): may be appointed to fill in as inspectors, clerks, or returning officers and may be paid under local rules, with priority given to precinct voters where vacancies exist.
• Candidates and their close associates: not eligible to serve as alternates (immediate family up to second degree and principal campaign committee members are excluded).
• Voters and polling places: staffing flexibility may improve when regular officials are unavailable, helping ensure polling places open and run smoothly.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes appointment of alternate election officials pursuant to local law, amending Section 17-8-1.
• Establishes numeric and proportional limits on total precinct officials that may be appointed without county commission consent, based on 2004 staffing levels and adjusted for changes in precincts, polling places, or voting equipment; consent required to exceed.
• Allows local law to provide for the appointment and payment of additional alternates from within the county at-large, with priority for precinct voters and caps by county population (up to 4, up to 12, or up to 24 depending on population).
• Specifies that alternates’ election expenses are eligible for reimbursement by the state Comptroller.
• Sets the duties and eligibility framework for precinct officials and alternates, including requirements to avoid conflicts of interest and to follow ballot handling procedures, with immediate effective date.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Elections