HB247 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rhett MarquesRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Elections, judge of probate, required notice to give prior to each election reduced, time frames for delivery of ballots in runoff elections revised, Secs. 17-9-5, 17-11-12, 17-13-3, 17-13-17, 17-13-18 am'd.

Summary

HB 247 shortens election notice, tightens ballot and runoff timelines, and standardizes canvassing and certification deadlines for Alabama elections.

What This Bill Does

It reduces the judge of probate's required notice before elections from 30 days to 14 days. It revises deadlines for delivering absentee ballots and related supplies to counties and municipalities, with specifics tied to municipal elections and runoff timing. It sets new schedules for primaries and runoffs (regular primaries on the first Tuesday in June, runoff on the sixth Tuesday after the first primary, and presidential primaries in March). It reorganizes the canvassing, tabulation, and declaration process for primaries and runoffs, establishing clear deadlines for county and state committees to certify results and for those results to be filed with the judge of probate and the Secretary of State, including the two-candidate runoff process. It becomes effective immediately upon the governor's approval.

Who It Affects

• Judge of probate and county election officials: must publish or post shorter notices (14 days) and follow revised ballot delivery and canvassing/certification deadlines.
• Voters, candidates, political parties, and election officials: face new primary/runoff schedules (June primary, runoff timing) and updated nomination and ballot certification procedures.

Key Provisions

• Notice reduction: The judge of probate must give notice at least 14 days before each election by newspaper publication or posting at the courthouse and three other public places, including the election date and offices or issues involved.
• Absentee ballot delivery: The officer in charge must deliver absentee ballots, envelopes, and supplies to the absentee election manager not less than 55 days prior to the election, with specific delivery windows for municipal elections and runoffs tied to qualification and notice timelines.
• Primary/runoff scheduling: Regular primaries shall be held on the first Tuesday in June; runoff primaries on the sixth Tuesday after the first primary; presidential primaries generally in March; any March presidential primary affects other references to May/June.
• Canvassing and certification timelines: County executive committees must meet and declare results within defined days after the primary; the state executive committee must meet within a set window to declare results and provide returns to the Secretary of State; results for gubernatorial and other offices are finalized through these timelines.
• Second primary (runoff) mechanics: The second primary is limited to the two top candidates from the first primary; ballots for the second primary are prepared with those two names; returns are canvassed and certified, and nominees are filed with the judge of probate and the Secretary of State for placement on the general election ballot.
• Effective date: The act becomes effective immediately after the governor signs it.

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