HB415 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris BlackshearRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Municipal elections, mayor to provide earlier notice of elections and print and distribute ballots earlier, to require the city clerk to provide notice of all elections to the Secretary of State in writing, Secs. 11-46-22, 11-46-25, 17-11-12 am'd.

Summary

HB415 would require earlier notice and ballot-printing deadlines for general municipal elections, require city clerks to notify the Secretary of State in writing, and update the code language.

What This Bill Does

It shifts the general municipal election notice deadline from the first Tuesday in July to the second Tuesday in June (for most municipalities). It also moves the ballot printing deadline to the fourth Tuesday in June before the election. In addition, it changes the timeline for printing and distributing official ballots and supplies to 28 days before the general municipal election (or 10 days after a runoff). The bill requires city clerks to notify the Secretary of State in writing of any municipal election. It also includes non-substantive technical revisions to update the code language to current style and provides an exemption for Class 1 municipalities or those with a commission form of government from the earlier notice change.

Who It Affects

• Mayors of most municipalities (excluding Class 1 municipalities and those organized under a commission form of government) who must provide election notices earlier and ensure ballots are ready earlier.
• City clerks and other election officials who must publish notices, print ballots, distribute supplies on new timelines, and notify the Secretary of State in writing about municipal elections.

Key Provisions

• Notice of regular municipal elections must be published by the mayor on the second Tuesday in June preceding the election (instead of the previous July timing) for all applicable municipalities.
• Ballots must be printed by the fourth Tuesday in June prior to the election.
• The official ballots and election supplies must be printed and distributed 28 days before the general municipal election, or 10 days after a runoff election.
• The city clerk in every municipality must notify the Secretary of State in writing of any special or regularly scheduled municipal election.
• The bill includes nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the code language to current style and clarifies exemptions for Class 1 municipalities or those with a commission form of government.

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