SB306 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Donnie ChesteenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Elections, Election Emergency Act, establish, suspension or delay election in emergency, authorized, Secs. 17-9-70 to 17-9-73, inclusive, added; Sec. 17-11-3 am'd.

Summary

SB306 creates the Elections Emergency Act and gives the Governor power to suspend or delay elections during a declared state of emergency, along with new rules for emergency voting and rescheduling.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes the Governor to suspend or delay any election during emergencies and to reschedule it within 21 days, with notice to the public when possible. It expands emergency and military/overseas voting options, establishes procedures for emergency absentee ballots and replacement ballots if ballots are destroyed, and sets counting rules to prevent duplicate ballots. It also requires the Secretary of State to develop a statewide elections emergency contingency plan and allows adding polling places as needed, with costs reimbursed by the state.

Who It Affects

• Qualified electors and voters statewide, including absentee voters (military and overseas), emergency voters, and those affected by emergencies, who may vote under emergency procedures and whose elections may be rescheduled.
• Election officials and local governments (Secretary of State, county officials, municipal clerks, poll workers) who must implement the emergency plan, manage rescheduling, set up any additional polling places, and handle replacement ballots and notices.
• Note: Although there are more groups affected in practice, this summary highlights the two primary groups most directly covered by the bill: voters and election officials/local governments.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Elections Emergency Act (new Article 4) and authorizes the Governor to suspend or delay elections during a declared state of emergency, with rescheduling handled in consultation with the Secretary of State and local officials.
• Requires rescheduling of suspended elections within 21 calendar days and provides for public notice of the rescheduled date whenever practicable.
• Allows the Governor to order the same delay for subsequent elections in the affected area and ensures official ballots remain valid even if the original date is moved.
• Requires replacement absentee ballots for ballots damaged or destroyed due to the emergency and allows counts only for the first counted absentee ballot per voter.
• Amends 17-11-3 to broaden absentee voting options (including emergency absentee ballots) and outlines conditions for emergency absentee voting, with specific forms and affidavits.
• Authorizes the Secretary of State to adopt emergency rules to permit emergency absentee voting when necessary and to fund these actions from state funds.
• Provides procedures for emergencies that affect polling places or equipment, including potential additional polling places and guidance on ballot recasting if ballots are unusable.
• Establishes a new statewide contingency plan with clear procedures for notice, orderly elections, and certification of results during suspensions or delays.
• Allows the county commission or municipal governing body to establish an additional polling place outside the affected precinct if the emergency occurs on election day.
• Requires reimbursement of all expenses related to these emergency provisions by the state, per existing reimbursement rules.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Elections