HB236 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Charles O. Newton

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Elections, write-in candidates, procedure for counting write-in votes, Sec. 17-6-28 am'd.

Summary

HB236 would establish a central county location and procedures for counting write-in votes in non-municipal general elections.

What This Bill Does

Write-in votes would be counted at a central location in the county. To count a write-in, voters must write the candidate's name and mark the space for that office; if they fail to register the write-in as required, the write-in is not counted and the regular vote stands. The canvassing board must count write-ins on or before noon, seven days after the election and treat them like provisional ballots; poll officials must check for over-votes if the electronic counter cannot. If write-ins total 5% or more of county votes, certain poll workers counted on non-election days would get the same pay as on election day, and compensation would be reimbursable.

Who It Affects

• Voters casting write-in votes in non-municipal general elections, who must follow the new filing and marking rules for their vote to count.
• Election officials (poll workers, canvassing board, and the judge of probate who sets the central location) who will count write-ins, manage the process, and handle compensation.

Key Provisions

• Write-in votes are allowed only in non-municipal general elections and ballots must allow a write-in for each office in the same way as regular candidates.
• A write-in counts only if the name is written on the ballot and the space for that office is marked; otherwise the vote is not counted.
• If a voter writes in a name but does not register the write-in, the ballot is treated as if no write-in occurred and the regular vote for the office stands.
• If a properly registered write-in causes an over-vote, none of the votes for that office are counted, but the rest of the ballot is counted; officials must check over-votes if the electronic counter cannot.
• All write-in ballots are returned on election night to a central county location and counted by the canvassing board on or before noon, seven days after the election, then tabulated as provisional ballots.
• If write-ins amount to 5% or more of county votes, poll workers counted on non-election days receive the same compensation as on election day, with reimbursement.

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