SB330 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Shay ShelnuttSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Elections, to prohibit the judge of probate, sheriff, and clerk of circuit court from serving on the appointing board in certain circumstances, prohibit individual from serving on board of registrars in certain circumstances, prohibit circuit clerk or other individual from serving as absentee election manager in certain circumstances, Secs. 17-3-2, 17-8-3, 17-11-2, 17-11-12, 17-11-13, 17-11-15 am'd.

Summary

SB330 would expand election-conflict rules by banning certain officials and their close family members from serving on election-appointment bodies, on the board of registrars, or as absentee election managers when they or a family member have opposition on the ballot in the relevant county or municipality.

What This Bill Does

It extends existing prohibitions to include family members of the judge of probate, sheriff, and circuit court clerk when a family member is a candidate with opposition in the county. It bars any person from serving on the board of registrars if they or a family member is a candidate with opposition in the county. It prohibits the circuit clerk or others from serving as absentee election manager if they or certain family members are candidates with opposition in the county or municipality. It also includes nonsubstantive technical updates to current code language and sets an effective date after passage.

Who It Affects

• Judge of probate, sheriff, and clerk of the circuit court, and their family members, in counties where they or a family member run with opposition.
• Members of the county board of registrars (and their family members) who would otherwise qualify to serve.
• Absentee election managers (and the circuit clerk or other designated individuals, and their family members) who are candidates with opposition in the relevant county or municipality.
• Municipal officials such as town clerks or city clerks (and their family members) who handle absentee ballots in municipal elections when they have opposition on the ballot.

Key Provisions

• §17-3-2: Prohibits any individual from serving on the board of registrars if the individual or his/her parent, child, spouse, or sibling is a candidate with opposition on the ballot in the county where the registrar would serve.
• §17-8-3: If the judge of probate, sheriff, or circuit clerk is a candidate with opposition, he or she shall not serve on the appointing board; likewise, if a family member is a candidate with opposition, they are barred from serving in the same circumstances.
• §17-11-2: An absentee election manager shall not serve if he or she, or a parent, child, spouse, or sibling, is a candidate with opposition on the ballot in the county where the manager would serve.
• §17-11-13: When the circuit clerk is a candidate with opposition, they are disqualified from handling absentee ballots and the appointing board must appoint a replacement; a similar prohibition applies if a family member is a candidate with opposition.
• §17-11-15: In municipal elections, duties for handling absentee ballots by the circuit clerk are performed by the town/city clerk or another officer; if that person is a candidate with opposition, the governing body must appoint a qualified elector, with additional restrictions for family members.
• Nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update code language to current style and an effective date set for the act.

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