SB458 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Sanford

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Elections, voter registration lists, publication by judge of probate in county or Association of Co. Commissioners website, fee for lists to judge of probate limited, Secs. 17-3-60, 17-4-1, 17-4-10, 17-9-5 am'd.

Summary

SB458 would shift publication of voter lists and election notices from newspapers to online county or Association websites, while requiring a newspaper display ad to point to where to find them and limiting the probate judge's pay for voter lists per election.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, it would eliminate most newspaper publication requirements for lists of registered voters and election notices (except the list of voters to be removed) and move the information to online posting. The information would be available to the public at no cost upon request, and the county must publish a display ad in a newspaper indicating where the information can be found. It would also cap the probate judge’s payment for providing voter lists to one list per election and require costs to be handled by the county, with the online posting and ad requirements applying to elections after the law takes effect.

Who It Affects

• Voters and the general public, who would access voter lists and election notices online for free and learn where to find them via newspaper display ads.
• County officials (judge of probate and county commissioners) and the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, who would maintain online postings, issue the display ads, and manage cost limitations for voter list preparations.

Key Provisions

• Eliminates most newspaper publication requirements for lists of registered voters and election notices; retains publication only for the lists of voters to be removed.
• Requires posting of the lists and notices on a county website (or the Association of County Commissions of Alabama website if no county site) and availability at no cost on request.
• Requires a display advertisement (at least half-page) in a countywide newspaper to inform the public where the voter lists and election notices can be found.
• Imposes a payment cap on the probate judge for providing the voter list to election inspectors: payment limited to one list per election and funded by the county with reimbursement procedures.
• Includes certification and timing requirements for lists (e.g., posting by the 20th day before primaries, printed certification from the state voter registration system, and procedures for adding omitted names).
• Applies to elections and cycles beginning after the act becomes law, with specific notice and posting provisions adjusted for reapportionment cycles.

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