HB31 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Craig Ford

Independent

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Voting, early voting procedure established, all elections

Summary

HB31 would create a no-excuse early voting program at designated county centers in Alabama before election day.

What This Bill Does

It establishes an early voting period for all elections, allowing qualified voters to vote early without an excuse at a designated center. It sets minimum days and hours of operation, requires county judges of probate to manage early voting and designate centers, and requires appointing boards to hire poll workers for early voting. It also requires the Secretary of State to issue rules guiding the program.

Who It Affects

• Registered voters in Alabama counties who wish to vote early at designated centers before election day.
• Judges of probate, appointing boards, poll workers, and the Secretary of State who organize, staff, and regulate early voting.

Key Provisions

• The Secretary of State, by rule, shall establish a no-excuse early voting procedure at an early voting center in each county.
• Each county must designate at least one early voting center with the same days and hours across centers; centers must be open for at least five days in the 14 days before an election and, for statewide elections, on the two Saturdays before the election; centers must be open at least 10 hours on days they operate.
• Judges of probate manage early voting and appointing boards appoint poll workers to staff early voting centers.
• The act does not change existing powers of registrars or other election procedures, and the Secretary of State will promulgate rules.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor's 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

Voters and Voting