HB102 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve HurstRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Elections, election officers, Legislature by local law authorized to appoint alternate election officers, Sec. 17-8-1 am'd.

Summary

The bill would let counties appoint alternate election officials under local law to fill in when regular officials are unavailable, with defined limits and funding rules.

What This Bill Does

It amends Section 17-8-1 to authorize the appointment of alternate election officials pursuant to local law. The bill sets population-based caps on how many alternates can be appointed and ties changes in the number of alternates to changes in precincts, polling places, or equipment, using a baseline from the 2004 general election. Alternates must be drawn from precinct voters as a first priority, and relatives of candidates or members of a candidate's campaign committee cannot be appointed. The appointment and payment of alternates are considered election expenses eligible for state reimbursement, and the act becomes effective immediately after governor’s approval.

Who It Affects

• Group 1: County election officials and county commissions – they gain authority to appoint alternates under local law, must follow population-based limits, and determine funding and adjustments for staffing levels.
• Group 2: Voters in the precincts (as potential alternates) and the broader electorate – alternates must be registered voters from the precinct, will fill in when regular officials cannot perform duties, and are subject to eligibility restrictions (e.g., relatives of candidates cannot be appointed); funding for their service is eligible for state reimbursement.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes appointment of alternate election officials under local law.
• Establishes baseline staffing limits tied to the 2004 general election and requires proportional adjustments if the number of precincts or voting places changes.
• Allows adjustments for changes in voting equipment, using the 2004 average per precinct multiplied by the number of precincts affected, with county commission consent to increase.
• Lists eligibility restrictions: relatives of candidates up to the second degree and any member of a candidate's principal campaign committee are not eligible for appointment.
• Permits local law to provide for appointing and paying additional alternates from within the county at-large, with specific caps by county population (up to 4, 12, or 24 alternates).
• Requires alternates to be prioritized from precinct voters and limits payments to the number authorized by the local act; funding is eligible for state reimbursement as election expenses.
• Effective date: immediately after passage and governor's approval.

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