SB107 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Electoral voting, electors voting for president unfaithfully, procedures to prevent, Alabama Uniform Faithful Presidential Electors Act

Summary

SB107 creates a formal process to ensure Alabama electors vote in line with voters’ choices, including pledges, substitute electors, and vacancy rules.

What This Bill Does

It requires nomination of two individuals per elector position (an elector nominee and an alternate). It requires pledges from electors to vote for the party's nominees (or unaffiliated candidate's nominees). It sets vacancy and substitution rules for electors who don't vote as pledged, including substitute electors chosen by the Secretary of State or by lot, and requires the Secretary of State to preside over the meeting and manage ballots. It takes effect January 1, 2015.

Who It Affects

• Presidential elector nominees and their alternates (and any substitutes) who must be pledged to vote as chosen and could be replaced if they fail to do so.
• The Governor, the Secretary of State, and political parties who nominate electors, oversee certification and substitutions, and handle ballot processing and amended certificates.

Key Provisions

• Section 3: Political parties submit two qualified individuals for each elector position—an elector nominee and an alternate elector nominee.
• Section 4: Elector nominees and alternate nominees must pledge to vote for the party's presidential and vice presidential nominees (or for the unaffiliated candidate's nominees).
• Section 5: Governor certifies the certificate of ascertainment and notes vacancy and replacement procedures, including amended certificates if substitutions occur.
• Section 6: Secretary of State presides over elector meetings; vacancies are filled by the alternate present, by lot among alternates, or by appointing any qualified person, with further rules if ties occur.
• Section 6(c): Substitute electors must take a pledge if they have not already executed one.
• Section 7: Ballots are distributed and must reflect pledges; failure to do so vacates the elector seat and triggers replacement processes; the Secretary handles substitute ballots until all votes are cast.
• Section 8: If the final elector list differs from the initial certificate, an amended certificate of ascertainment is issued and transmitted along with a certificate of vote.
• Section 9: Emphasizes aim for uniformity of law across states.
• Section 10: The act takes effect January 1, 2015.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Electoral Voting