HB638 Alabama 2021 Session
In Committee
Bill Summary
Sponsors
Session
Regular Session 2021
Title
Absentee voting, requiring photo ID with absentee ballot, prohibiting absentee election manager and circuit clerk from extending operating hours, requiring absentee election manager to submit report, Secs. 17-9-30, 17-11-2, 17-11-4, 17-11-5, 17-11-10, 17-11-11, 17-11-18 am'd.
Description
<p class="bill_description"> Under existing law, voters requesting an
absentee ballot must submit photo identification
with the absentee ballot application</p><p class="bill_description">
Under existing law, the absentee election
manager is required to be open on the days and
during the hours as that of the circuit clerk</p><p class="bill_description">
Under existing law, the list of electors
voting by absentee ballot is confidential until the
day following an election</p><p class="bill_description">
Under existing law, election officials may
not begin the process of counting and returning
absentee ballots until noon on election day</p><p class="bill_description">
Under existing law, a person or organization
authorized by law may appoint one poll watcher to
be present for the counting of absentee ballots</p><p class="bill_description">
Under existing law, an absentee ballot,
except one cast pursuant to the Uniformed and
Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA),
cannot be counted unless postmarked as of the day
before the election and received by mail or hand
delivery no later than noon on election day</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would require that the photo
identification be submitted with the absentee
ballot rather than the absentee ballot application</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would prohibit the absentee
election manager and circuit clerk from extending
its hours of operation outside of its normal
business hours during an election year</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would require the absentee
election manager to report to the Secretary of
State and Attorney General listing the names of any
voters who requested that an absentee ballot be
mailed to an address where a number of absentee
ballots were requested, and that names of any
voters who requested an absentee ballot in a county
other than the county in which the voter is
registered to vote</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would require the absentee
election manager to record the name, voting place
of the applicant, date the application was
received, date the ballot was sent, and date the
ballot was returned on a list of absentee voters
and to post a copy of the list of voters who have
requested an absentee ballot each day on the
regular bulletin board or other public place in the
county courthouse</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would require that each absentee
ballot have an identifying tracking number</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would permit election officials to
begin the process of counting and returning
absentee ballots earlier on election day when a
certain number of absentee ballots have been
received by the absentee election manager</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would increase the number of poll
watchers when a certain amount of absentee ballots
have been received</p><p class="bill_description">
This bill would provide that any absentee
ballot postmarked before election day and received
by mail a certain number of calendar days after the
election shall be deemed a provisional ballot</p><p class="bill_entitled_an_act"> Relating to absentee voting; to amend Sections
17-9-30, 17-11-2, 17-11-4, 17-11-5, 17-11-10, 17-11-11,
17-11-18, Code of Alabama 1975, to require photo
identification to be submitted with the absentee ballot rather
than the absentee ballot application; to prohibit the absentee
election manager and circuit clerk from extending its hours of
operation outside of its normal business hours during an
election year; to require the absentee election manager to
submit a report to the Secretary of State and Attorney General
relating to certain absentee ballot requests; to require the
absentee election manager to record certain activities
relating to each absentee ballot and to post a copy of the
list of voters who have requested an absentee ballot each day
on the regular bulletin board or other public place in the
county courthouse; to require that each absentee ballot have
an identifying tracking number; to permit election officials
to begin the process of counting and returning absentee
ballots earlier on election day when a certain number of
absentee ballots have been received by the absentee election
manager; to increase the number of poll watchers; to observe
counting of absentee ballots in certain circumstances; and to
provide that any absentee ballot postmarked as of the date
prior to the day of the election and received by mail a
certain number of calendar days after the election shall be
deemed a provisional ballot.
</p>
Subjects
Absentee Voting
Bill Actions
| Action Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| April 20, 2021 | H | Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Constitution, Campaigns and Elections |
Bill Text
Bill Documents
| Type | Link |
|---|---|
| Bill Text | HB638 Alabama 2021 Session - Introduced |