HB 411

Under existing law, electors may only vote on election day, with the exception of absentee voting

This bill would establish an advance voting period during which qualified electors, without excuse, may vote at a designated advance voting center before election day

This bill would provide for the hours of operation for each advance voting center

This bill would require judges of probate to manage advance voting and require appointing boards to appoint poll workers to work at advance voting centers

This bill would also require the Secretary of State to adopt rules

Relating to voting; to establish an advance voting period during which qualified electors, without excuse, may vote at a designated advance voting center before election day; to provide for the minimum days and hours of operation for each advance voting center; to require judges of probate to manage advance voting and require appointing boards to appoint poll workers to work at advance voting centers; and to require the Secretary of State to adopt rules.

Section 1

(a) The Secretary of State, by rule, shall establish a procedure by which a registered voter may cast his or her ballot, without excuse, during an advance voting period for an election at an advance voting center in the county in which he or she resides, as provided in this section. (b) This section shall apply to all elections. (c) The judge of probate in each county shall be responsible for managing advance voting. Prior to an election, the judge of probate shall designate and provide at least one advance voting center in the county. If a judge of probate designates more than one voting center, the judge of probate shall configure boundaries for each advance voting center in the county. All advance voting centers in a county shall have the same hours of operation. (d) The advance voting period shall commence on the fourth Monday of the month immediately preceding the month of the election and shall end on the Friday immediately preceding the election. Advance voting centers shall be open for voting, at a minimum, during normal business hours on weekdays and from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The judge of probate may extend the hours of operation to suit the needs of the electors of the jurisdiction. (e) The judge of probate shall provide reasonable notice to the electors of the jurisdiction of the availability of advance voting as well as the times, dates, and locations of advance voting centers. (f) The appointing board responsible for appointing poll workers, as provided in Section 17-8-1, Code of Alabama 1975, shall be responsible for appointing poll workers to work during the advance voting period. (g) Nothing in this section shall impair or affect the powers and duties of boards of registrars, judges of probate, and other election officials under Title 17, Code of Alabama 1975, nor shall it affect the procedures and requirements for voter registration and election day voting.

Section 2

This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.