HB356 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Hill

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Write-in ballots, standards and procedures for the counting of, provided, Sec. 17-6-28.1 added; Secs. 17-6-28, 17-12-1 am'd.

Summary

HB356 creates formal standards and procedures for counting write-in ballots in non-municipal general elections.

What This Bill Does

It amends existing law to specify how write-in votes must be cast, registered, counted, and handled if improper; it adds a new section (17-6-28.1) that establishes the counting period, appointment of write-in poll workers, compensation, and counting logistics, including the use of electronic reproductions. It prohibits counting write-ins that are not for living persons and bans the use of stickers or stamps to cast write-ins. It also outlines how ballots are printed, certified, and included in the canvass, and designates who certifies the write-in counts.

Who It Affects

• Voters participating in non-municipal general elections: must write the candidate's name and mark the appropriate space for their write-in to be counted; write-ins must be for living persons and must be properly registered to count.
• Election administration staff (including precinct officials, the judge of probate, and the appointing board): responsible for implementing the new counting standards, appointing write-in poll workers, overseeing the counting process, and certifying results.

Key Provisions

• Amends Sections 17-6-28 and 17-12-1 and adds Section 17-6-28.1 to provide standards and procedures for counting write-in ballots, including when and how they are counted and how over-votes are handled.
• Defines how a write-in vote must be cast (name written on the ballot and a mark in the office space) and that write-ins not properly registered shall not be counted; if a write-in is not registered while a regular vote for the same office is recorded, the ballot is treated as if no write-in occurred.
• Prohibits counting write-ins placed by stickers, stamps, or other non-writing methods; requires counting to be done for living persons only; over-votes invalidate the office’s write-in votes while allowing the remainder of the ballot to be counted.
• Creates a counting period (day after the non-municipal general election to noon on the seventh day after) and requires the appointment of write-in poll workers, compensation, and a counting site; allows electronic reproductions of write-ins under certain designations.
• Requires public notice of the time and place for counting write-in votes; authorizes the Secretary of State to issue implementing rules; sets deadlines for certification and embedding write-in counts into the canvass.

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