SB19 Alabama 2015 Session

Signed by Governor

Bill Summary

Sponsors

Cam Ward

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Municipalities, elections under Title 11, absentee ballots, voting machines, provisions regarding tie votes, Secs. 11-46-32, 11-46-33, 11-46-55 am'd.

Description

Under existing municipal election law, the mayor is required to deliver absentee election supplies to the clerk not less than 21 days prior to an election. Title 17, Code of Alabama 1975, requires specific deadlines for providing absentee election supplies in municipal elections

This bill would remove conflicting language in Title 11 in order to conform to Title 17

Under existing municipal election law, the term voting machines is used in Chapter 46 of Title 11, Code of Alabama 1975. The term voting machines in Chapter 46 generally applies to mechanical voting machines. Other election laws authorize the governing bodies of counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions to adopt and direct the use of electronic vote counting systems

This bill would distinguish voting machines from electronic vote counting systems in municipal elections in order to clarify that the statutory requirements applicable to voting machines do not apply to municipalities using electronic vote counting systems

Under existing municipal election law, in the event of a tie after a runoff election, the municipal governing body votes to determine the winner. Section 17-12-23, Code of Alabama 1975, requires that, when there is a tie between the two highest candidates for the same office in a runoff election, the winner is decided by lot

This bill would provide that in a municipal election, the municipal governing body would have one week from the runoff election canvassing date to decide the winner of the runoff election. If the governing body fails to act within that time, the tie would be decided by lot not later than 5:00 P.M. on the first Tuesday following the runoff election

Relating to municipal elections conducted pursuant to Chapter 46 of Title 11, Code of Alabama 1975; to amend Section 11-46-32, Code of Alabama 1975, to change the deadline requirement for delivery of absentee election supplies from 21 days to 35 days prior to the election date; to amend Section 11-46-33, Code of Alabama 1975, to distinguish the term voting machines from electronic vote counting systems as defined in Title 17, Code of Alabama 1975; and to amend Section 11-46-55, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide the procedure to establish the winner of a municipal election in the event of a tie after the runoff election.

Subjects

Municipalities

Bill Actions

Action Date	Chamber	Action
May 19, 2015	H
May 19, 2015	S	Conference Committee on SB19 2015RS first Substitute Offered
May 19, 2015	S	Assigned Act No. 2015-216.
May 19, 2015	H	Signature Requested
May 19, 2015	S	Enrolled
May 19, 2015	S	Concurred in Conference Report
May 19, 2015	H	Williams (JD) motion to Concur In and Adopt adopted Roll Call 832
May 19, 2015	H	Conference Report Concurrence Requested
May 19, 2015	S	Marsh motion to Concur In and Adopt adopted Roll Call 998
May 19, 2015	S	Conference Report
May 7, 2015	S	Conference Committee Appointed
May 5, 2015	H	Williams (JD) motion to Accede adopted Roll Call 591 House appoints Williams (JD), Wingo and Hall
May 5, 2015	H	Conference Committee Requested
April 28, 2015	S	Albritton motion to Non Concur and Appoint Conference Committee adopted Roll Call 605 P&PO appoints Marsh, Ward and Ross
April 28, 2015	S	Albritton motion to Reconsider adopted Voice Vote
April 28, 2015	S	Third Reading Referred to conference committee
April 23, 2015	S	Concurred in Second House Amendment
April 23, 2015	S	Marsh motion to Concur In and Adopt adopted Roll Call 601
April 23, 2015	S	Concurrence Requested
April 21, 2015	H	Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call 456
April 21, 2015	H	Motion to Adopt adopted Roll Call 455
April 21, 2015	H	Williams (JD) Amendment Offered
April 21, 2015	H	Third Reading Passed
April 2, 2015	H	Read for the second time and placed on the calendar
March 12, 2015	H	Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Constitution, Campaigns and Elections
March 12, 2015	S	Engrossed
March 12, 2015	S	Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call 64
March 12, 2015	S	Ward motion to Adopt adopted Roll Call 63
March 12, 2015	S	Constitution, Ethics and Elections Amendment Offered
March 12, 2015	S	Third Reading Passed
March 5, 2015	S	Reported from Constitution, Ethics and Elections as Favorable with 1 amendment
March 3, 2015	S	Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Constitution, Ethics and Elections