SB55 Alabama 2011 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Cam Ward
Republican
Co-Sponsors: Bryan Taylor Gerald O. Dial Clay Scofield Phillip W. Williams Bill Holtzclaw Paul Bussman Dick Brewbaker Shadrack McGill Greg J. Reed Jimmy Holley Scott Beason Arthur Orr Rusty Glover Paul Sanford J.T. Waggoner Gerald H. Allen Tom Whatley
Session: Regular Session 2011
Title: Elections, overseas absentee voting, Electronic Overseas Voting Advisory Committee, established to advise whether secure electronic means of voting available, duties of absentee election manager, overseas voter certificate required, Secretary of State to implement rules
Summary: SB55 creates the Alabama Electronic Overseas Voting Advisory Committee to study and implement secure electronic overseas absentee voting, with rules for requests, certificates, returns, and emergency voting.
What This Bill Does
It establishes a committee to determine if secure electronic overseas voting is feasible and to help the Secretary of State adopt rules. If feasible, the Secretary of State would promulgate rules for conducting overseas absentee voting by secure remote electronic transmission, including how voters request ballots, how ballots are returned, and how voter identity is verified. The bill sets detailed security, processing, and instructional requirements for overseas ballots and allows emergency rules to adapt voting during emergencies; it also specifies that the state will pay the related costs.

Who It Affects
Overseas voters (military personnel, Merchant Marines, and other U.S. citizens temporarily living abroad) who may be able to request, receive, and return absentee ballots via secure electronic means and must use an overseas voter certificate.
Alabama election officials and agencies (Secretary of State, absentee election manager, county boards of registrars, sheriffs associations, probate judges, circuit clerks, etc.) who would create, implement, and enforce the new overseas voting rules and processes.
Veterans and military-related organizations (e.g., Alabama National Guard, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans of Foreign Wars) whose members are involved in or affected by overseas voting procedures and advisory committee activities.

Key Provisions
Creates the Alabama Electronic Overseas Voting Advisory Committee and defines its purpose to study secure electronic overseas voting and advise the Secretary of State.
Specifies committee membership, including multiple state and local officials and diversity requirements, with annual reporting to the Legislature.
If secure electronic overseas voting is deemed feasible, requires the Secretary of State to adopt rules governing the process for requests, receipt, return, and processing of overseas ballots, and the use of overseas voter certificates.
Establishes minimum security and auditing standards for the secure remote electronic transmission system, including encryption, key management, secure devices, identity verification, and ballot recording.
Details content and issuance of overseas voter certificates and the information required for ballot requests and returns (including instructions, deadlines, and acceptable return methods like fax, mail, or secure electronic access).
Sets procedures for processing voted overseas ballots and the handling of ballots and certificates to ensure confidentiality and integrity.
grants the Secretary of State authority to adopt additional rules to comply with federal law, extend deadlines if necessary, and issue emergency voting rules during emergencies.
Requires the state to cover all costs of implementing these provisions, using funds available to the Secretary of State across counties.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Elections