HB399 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Wes AllenSecretary

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Elections, voting, prohibit mail-in voting and prohibit the Sec. of State from revising the absentee voting process during a state of emergency, Sec. 17-11-3 am'd.

Summary

HB399 would restrict emergency changes to absentee voting rules by keeping photo ID, witness/notarization, and the application requirement in place during state emergencies.

What This Bill Does

HB399 amends Section 17-11-3 to prohibit the Secretary of State from waiving the requirements for absentee voting during a state of emergency. Specifically, it prevents waivers of the application requirement, photo ID, and the requirement that ballots be witnessed or notarized. The bill still allows the Secretary of State to issue emergency rules to enable absentee voting during emergencies, but those rules must preserve these requirements. Absentee voting by mail or other methods remains available as determined by the SOS.

Who It Affects

• Qualified electors who vote absentee: must continue to submit an application, provide photo identification, and have their ballot witnessed or notarized, even during emergencies.
• Secretary of State and election administrators: limited in creating emergency rules; cannot waive the identified requirements, though they may still establish emergency voting options that comply with these rules.

Key Provisions

• Notwithstanding any other law, the Secretary of State may not permit or authorize an emergency absentee voting method that waives the requirement to submit an application, provide photo identification, or have the ballot witnessed or notarized.
• The Secretary of State may still adopt emergency rules to allow absentee voting during a state of emergency, but such rules must require the standard application, photo ID, and witnessing/notarization, and may not waive them.

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