SB221 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Elections, political parties and independent candidates for statewide office, number of names required to gain ballot access, reduced, Secs. 17-6-22, 17-9-3 am'd.

Summary

SB221 would lower the ballot-access signature requirements for political parties and independent candidates for statewide office in Alabama and change related submission timelines, effective immediately.

What This Bill Does

It reduces the number of signatures needed for parties and independents to gain statewide ballot access and changes the submission time frame for those signatures. For statewide independent candidates, the required signatures would be at least 1.5% of the qualified electors who voted for Governor in the last general election. It also changes the certification timeline (Secretary of State must certify qualified nominees within 45 days after the second primary) and affects how ballots are printed, restricting certain candidate names based on primary participation.

Who It Affects

• Political parties seeking to put statewide candidates on the ballot (lower signature requirements and altered submission timing).
• Independent candidates seeking statewide office (lower signature requirements, including a 1.5% threshold for statewide races, and altered submission timing).
• Election officials (Secretary of State and judges of probate) who administer ballot access procedures and ballot printing/certification timelines.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 17-6-22 to reduce the number of signatures needed for political parties to gain statewide ballot access and to alter the time frame for submitting signatures.
• Amends Section 17-9-3 to set statewide independent candidate signatures at 1.5% of Governor voters and to adjust related nomination/certification timelines, including a 45-day certification deadline after the second primary.
• Immediate effective date upon passage.

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