HB213 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Ball

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Elections, notification of absentee voter of defective and uncounted ballot, Sec. 17-11-10 am'd.

Summary

HB213 would require election officials to mail absentee voters a written explanation after each election about why their absentee ballot was not counted.

What This Bill Does

This bill adds a requirement that after every election the local board of registrars must mail absentee voters a written notice explaining why their absentee ballot was not counted. The notice must be sent within 30 calendar days after the election and state the specific reason for rejection. It also specifies that rejected ballots and related notices are handled with existing procedures, but adds record-keeping and rulemaking requirements, and the act becomes law after a defined delay.

Who It Affects

• Absentee voters whose ballots are not counted will receive a mailed explanation of the rejection reason.
• Local boards of registrars and absentee election managers must issue and mail the notices.
• The sheriff's office must collect all rejected ballots within 30 days after each election.
• The office of the local judge of probate must retain a copy of the rejection notice for at least one year.
• The Secretary of State will promulgate rules to implement the new notice requirement.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 17-11-10 to require a mail notice to absentee voters after each election explaining why the ballot was not counted.
• Notice must be delivered within 30 calendar days after the election and sent by first-class mail.
• Notice must describe the specific cause of rejection and why the ballot was not counted.
• Absentee ballots rejected due to improper witnessing or other legal reasons are subject to the new notice requirement; the sheriff must collect rejected ballots within 30 days.
• A copy of the rejection notice must be retained by the local judge of probate for at least one year;
• The Secretary of State will issue implementing rules for this change.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after 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