SB225 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Trip Pittman

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Gerald O. DialBill HoltzclawGreg J. ReedShadrack McGillBill HightowerJ.T. WaggonerPaul BussmanBryan TaylorCam WardGerald H. AllenArthur OrrJerry L. FieldingClay ScofieldRusty Glover

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Voter registration, board of registrars, prohibited time of registering any person as a qualified elector extended from 10 to 17 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

SB225 would extend the voter registration blackout period before elections from 10 to 17 days and require voter lists to be printed within 10 days of an election.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits registering new voters within 17 days prior to an election (extending the current 10-day limit). It also requires the judge of probate to prepare and print a state-verified list of qualified electors within the 10 days before an election and deliver it to polling places, with an option for electronic access under state rules. The printed list must include a certification and remain open to public inspection; counties with 600,000+ population are exempt from the extension, and local rules for printing may continue in effect in those counties.

Who It Affects

• Prospective voters: face a longer period during which they cannot register before an election (17 days instead of 10).
• Boards of registrars: must keep offices open during the 17-day period and on election day, and must not register qualified electors during that time.
• Judge of probate: must prepare and print the official voter list within 10 days before the election and deliver it to polling places, with the list containing appropriate certifications.
• Election inspectors/polling places: will receive printed (or electronically accessible) lists of qualified electors just before elections.
• Secretary of State and counties: oversee rules for electronic access to the voter list and any rule changes; counties with 600,000+ population are exempt from the extension.
• Public and researchers: retain the right to public inspection of the current county voter lists.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 17-3-50 to extend the prohibition on registering any person as a qualified elector from 10 days to 17 days before any election, and requires offices to remain open during the period and on election day.
• Amends Section 17-4-2 to require the judge of probate to prepare and print a corrected, precinct- and subdivision-structured list of qualified electors within the 10-day period before an election, and to deliver it to polling places with proper certification; printed lists must be true and correct as of printing time.
• Printed lists must be delivered to inspectors for each polling place, and newspaper lists cannot be used as poll lists; electronic access to the state voter registration list may substitute for printed lists under administrative rules.
• The Secretary of State must promulgate rules for electronic access and provide advance notice of proposed rule changes to counties.
• Both the board of registrars and the judge of probate must keep a current copy of the qualified elector list available for public inspection.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

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