HB419 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David StandridgeRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Elections, Election Emergency Act, establish, suspension or delay election in emergency, authorized, Secs. 17-9-70 to 17-9-72, inclusive, added; Sec. 17-11-3 am'd.

Summary

HB419 creates the Elections Emergency Act and gives the Governor power to suspend or delay elections during a declared state of emergency, with rules to reschedule, protect ballots, and expand emergency voting.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Elections Emergency Act, allowing the Governor to suspend or delay elections during a declared state of emergency. If an election is suspended or delayed, it must be rescheduled within 21 days, with notice published when possible, and the same delay applies to subsequent elections in the area. It updates absentee and emergency voting rules to ensure voters can still cast ballots and explains how ballots are counted if ballots are damaged or if voting occurs on the rescheduled date. The bill also requires a statewide contingency plan and allows for additional polling places if emergencies disrupt voting.

Who It Affects

• Qualified voters in Alabama, who may vote using standard, absentee, or emergency absentee ballots and may participate in a rescheduled election if the original date is suspended or delayed.
• Governor, Secretary of State, county and municipal election officials, probate judges, and election workers who must implement suspensions/delays, coordinate rescheduling, manage notices, and oversee emergency voting procedures.

Key Provisions

• Creates Elections Emergency Act as a new Article 4, authorizing the Governor to suspend or delay elections during a declared state of emergency.
• When an election is suspended or delayed, the Governor must reschedule it to be held within 21 days, in consultation with the Secretary of State and affected local officials.
• Notice of the rescheduled election should be published where practicable and, if possible, announced on radio/TV.
• All subsequent elections in the affected area within the same election cycle receive the same delay or suspension.
• If ballots or voting equipment are destroyed or damaged by the emergency, the Governor must require replacement ballots and recast votes on the rescheduled date, with replacement absentee ballots issued as needed.
• If postponement occurs after polling has begun and ballots are damaged so they cannot be counted, all qualified voters in the affected precinct may vote on the rescheduled date and original votes are not counted.
• If postponement occurs after polling has begun but no ballots/equipment are damaged, only voters who had not yet voted may vote on the rescheduled date, and all valid votes from both dates are counted at the close of the rescheduled day.
• The Secretary of State must adopt a statewide election emergency contingency plan detailing notice procedures, orderly conduct, polling place adjustments, and the release of returns.
• During emergencies, counties/municipalities may establish an additional polling place outside the affected precincts, using the precinct’s registration books.
• All expenses under this article are reimbursed by the State under existing election expense laws.

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