SB15 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Cam Ward
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Elections, political parties and independent candidates for statewide office, number of names required to gain ballot access, reduced, Secs. 17-6-22, 17-9-3 am'd.
Summary: SB15 would lower the signature requirements for parties and independent candidates to qualify for statewide ballots in Alabama.
What This Bill Does
The bill changes the rules for getting a party or an independent candidate on the statewide ballot. It sets new, lower signature thresholds: political parties must file signatures totaling at least 3.5% of the qualified electors who voted for the Governor in the last general election, and independent candidates for statewide office must gather signatures totaling at least 1.5% of Governor voters. It keeps the local (non-statewide) independent candidate threshold at 3% and describes the filing, certification, and ballot-printing processes, with the act taking effect immediately after passage.

Who It Affects
Political parties seeking to have their nominees appear on statewide ballots (lower threshold to qualify for ballot access).
Independent candidates seeking statewide office (lower threshold to qualify for ballot access).

Key Provisions
Amends sections 17-6-22 and 17-9-3 to set new ballot-access signature requirements: 3.5% of Governor-voter ballots for party qualification, and 1.5% of Governor-voter ballots for statewide independent candidates.
Maintains 3% signature threshold for independent candidates seeking local (non-statewide) offices.
Outlines filing deadlines and the certification process: signatures filed with the appropriate official by specified dates, and the Secretary of State certifying qualified candidates to the judge of probate (or county equivalents) for ballot printing.
Ballot printing rules include conditions about whether independent or party nominees who ran in primaries can be placed on the ballot in the same year.
Effective date: the act becomes law immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor.

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