HB165 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Ball

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Elections, absentee ballots, local board of registrars required to notify absentee voters by mail why his or her absentee ballot was not counted, Sec. 17-11-10 am'd.

Summary

HB165 would require local election officials to mail absentee voters a notice explaining why their absentee ballot wasn't counted after each election.

What This Bill Does

It would require the absentee election manager or local board of registrars to notify voters by mail about the reason their absentee ballot was not counted after an election. The notice must explain the specific reason for rejection and be mailed within 30 days; the sheriff would collect rejected ballots within 30 days, and a copy of the notice would be kept for at least one year, with the Secretary of State to set implementing rules. The bill keeps existing rules about how ballots are handled and witnessed, so ballots are counted if properly witnessed and rejected ballots follow the new notification requirement.

Who It Affects

• Absentee voters whose ballots are not counted will receive a mailed explanation of the reason for the rejection.
• Local boards of registrars and election officials (including absentee election managers, sheriffs, and probate offices) who must issue notices, collect rejected ballots, and maintain records.

Key Provisions

• Requires local boards of registrars to notify absentee voters by mail after every election of the reason their absentee ballot was not counted.
• Establishes timelines and record-keeping: notices mailed within 30 days of the election; rejected ballots collected within 30 days; a copy of the notice kept for at least one year; and the Secretary of State to adopt implementing rules.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Elections