HB396 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Laura HallRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Absentee voting, to allow the absentee election manager to appoint additional assistants, to further provide for absentee ballots applications, to authorize absentee voting without an excuse, to provide further for the process of counting absentee ballots, to eliminate the requirement that an absentee ballot be postmarked as of date prior to election day, Secs. 17-11-2, 17-11-3, 17-11-7, 17-11-10, 17-11-14, 17-11-18 am'd.

Summary

HB396 would expand absentee voting in Alabama by allowing universal absentee ballots, adding staff flexibility for the absentee office, and relaxing postmark rules and deadlines.

What This Bill Does

It allows the absentee election manager to appoint up to two assistants. It changes absentee ballot application deadlines so mailed applications must be received 10 days before an election and hand-delivered applications 5 days before. It permits registered voters to vote absentee without an excuse. It moves the delivery of affidavit envelopes for absentee ballots to an earlier time on election day and removes the requirement that an absentee ballot must be postmarked before election day to be counted.

Who It Affects

• Registered Alabama voters who may choose to vote absentee without providing an excuse and must follow the new application timing rules for mail and hand-delivered submissions.
• Absentee election managers, county commissions, and election offices who gain authority to hire up to two assistants, must manage earlier ballot envelope delivery, and implement revised counting and compensation rules.

Key Provisions

• Absentee election manager may appoint up to two assistants; assistants have duties and compensation coordinated by the county commission and are paid similarly to other election staff.
• Mail absentee ballot applications must be received not less than 10 days before the election; hand-delivered applications must be received not less than 5 days before the election.
• Any qualified elector may apply for and vote an absentee ballot without an excuse (universal absentee voting).
• Absentee election manager must begin delivering sealed affidavit envelopes containing absentee ballots to election officials at an earlier time on election day (earlier than the current noon timeline).
• The requirement that an absentee ballot be postmarked prior to the day of the election in order to be counted is eliminated.
• Compensation for the absentee election manager and any assistants is set by the county, with state reimbursement; minimum daily pay and total days are specified, and compensation rules align with existing clerk pay where applicable.
• Absentee ballots must still be counted under the same framework as in-person ballots, with proper witnessing of affidavit signatures; procedures for handling emergency or special categories (like UOCAVA) remain in place.

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

Subjects

Absentee Voting