SB109 Alabama 2019 Session

Under existing law, it is a Class A misdemeanor to tamper with or misuse an electronic voting machine

This bill would make it a Class B felony to tamper with, hack, or otherwise manipulate an electronic voting machine or to misuse a voting machine

Under existing law, it is a Class C felony to falsify an absentee ballot application, to change a ballot application so that the ballot does not reflect the voter's intention, to vote more than once by absentee ballot, or to vote on behalf of another voter

This bill would make certain enumerated actions relating to voter fraud, whereby a voter takes an unlawful action when voting by absentee ballot, a Class A misdemeanor

This bill would make certain enumerated action relating to electoral fraud, whereby a person influences or attempts to influence or manipulate the vote of another person by absentee ballot, a Class C felony

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

Relating to elections; to amend Sections 17-17-23 and 17-17-24, Code of Alabama 1975; to provide that tampering with, hacking, or otherwise manipulating an electronic voting machine or misusing a voting machine is a Class B felony; to make certain enumerated actions relating to voter fraud, whereby a voter takes an unlawful action when voting by absentee ballot, a Class A misdemeanor; to make certain enumerated action relating to electoral fraud, whereby a person influences or attempts to influence or manipulate the vote of another person by absentee ballot, a Class C felony; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.