SB201 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bryan Taylor

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Elections, board of registrars, prohibited time of registering any person as a qualified elector extended from 10 to 14 days prior to election, probate judge required to print voter list within 10 days of an election, Sec. 17-3-50, 17-4-2 am'd.

Summary

SB201 would extend the voter registration blackout period to 14 days before an election and require the official voter lists to be printed within the 10 days before an election.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, boards of registrars would not register new voters from 14 days prior to an election (up from 10 days), though offices must stay open during that period and on election day. The judge of probate would prepare and print the state voter registration list after registration closes and within the 10 days before an election, delivering a certified, precinct- and subdivision-specific list to inspectors; electronic access to the list could replace printed lists under Secretary of State rules. Counties with populations of 600,000 or more are exempt from these provisions, and local laws in those counties would remain in effect.

Who It Affects

• Voters who try to register within the 14-day window before an election in counties not exempt would be blocked from registration during that period.
• Boards of registrars and the judge of probate, who would implement the new blackout period, print and distribute the official voter lists, and maintain access to the lists (including exemptions for larger counties).

Key Provisions

• Extend the prohibition on registering new electors from 10 to 14 days before an election (17-3-50).
• Boards of registrars must keep offices open during the 14-day period and on election day.
• The judge of probate must prepare and print the state voter registration list after registration closes and within 10 days before an election, with lists organized by precincts, wards, and subdivisions and delivered to inspectors with a certification of accuracy; newspaper poll lists cannot be used as poll lists.
• Electronic access to the state voter registration list may be used instead of printed lists under Secretary of State rules, with rules to be issued following the Administrative Procedure Act.
• An electronic archive of the state voter registration list must be recorded concurrently with printing, and printed lists must be kept open to public inspection.
• Large counties (population ≥ 600,000) are exempt from these provisions, and any existing local laws for deadlines in those counties remain in force.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

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