HB64 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gregory Canfield

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Barry MooreEd HenryMike HubbardWes LongRichard BaughnBecky NordgrenMac ButtramKurt WallaceDonnie ChesteenJohn MerrillKen JohnsonDan WilliamsWilliam RobertsVictor GastonJack WilliamsJim McClendonDuwayne BridgesHoward SanderfordPhil WilliamsGreg WrenAllen TreadawayRon JohnsonKerry RichTerri CollinsJim Patterson

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Elections, right of individuals to vote by secret ballot for public office, referenda, employee representation, guaranteed, Amendment 579 (Section 177, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.

Summary

A constitutional amendment to guarantee the right to vote by secret ballot in Alabama for public office elections, referenda, and employee representation.

What This Bill Does

If approved, it makes secret-ballot voting a fundamental right in those elections. It confirms that the Legislature can set reasonable, nondiscriminatory prerequisites to registration and must provide voter registration procedures. It requires the Legislature to handle registration, absentee voting, secrecy in voting, election administration, and candidate nomination, and it requires the ballot to present a description of the amendment with Yes/No options.

Who It Affects

• Eligible voters: United States citizens 18 or older who reside in Alabama, meet residency rules, and are registered; their right to vote would be protected and carried out with secret ballots.
• People with prior felony convictions involving moral turpitude or mental incompetence: they remain ineligible to vote until civil/political rights are restored or disability is removed.
• Election officials and voting processes: required to implement registration procedures, absentee voting, voting secrecy, election administration, and the ballot description/Yes-No options for this amendment.

Key Provisions

• Section 177(d): The right to vote by secret ballot is fundamental and guaranteed for elections of public office, referenda, and employee representation when required by law.
• Section 177(a)-(b): Governs general voting eligibility (18+ citizens, residency, registration) and allows the Legislature to set reasonable nondiscriminatory prereqs to registration; disqualifications for certain felonies or mental incompetence remain until rights are restored.
• Section 177(c): The Legislature must provide for voter registration, absentee voting, secrecy in voting, administration of elections, and nomination of candidates.
• Section 3: The election official must place the amendment on the ballot with a description of its substance and present Yes/No options for voters.

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

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments