HB354 Alabama 2022 Session

Under existing law, voters requesting an absentee ballot must submit photo identification with the absentee ballot application

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

Under existing law, the list of electors voting by absentee ballot is confidential until the day following an election

Under existing law, a person or organization authorized by law may appoint one poll watcher to be present for the counting of absentee ballots

Under existing law, an absentee ballot, except one cast pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), cannot be counted unless received by mail or hand delivery no later than noon on election day

This bill would require that the photo identification be submitted with the absentee ballot rather than the absentee ballot application

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

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

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

This bill would require that each absentee ballot have an identifying tracking number

This bill would increase the number of poll watchers when a certain amount of absentee ballots have been received

This bill would also provide that any absentee ballot received by mail a certain number of calendar days after the election shall be deemed a provisional ballot

Relating to absentee voting; to amend Sections 17-9-30, 17-11-2, 17-11-4, 17-11-5, and 17-11-11, Code of Alabama 1975, and Section 17-11-18, Code of Alabama 1975, as last amended by Act 2021-364 of the 2021 Regular Session; 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 increase the number of poll watchers; to observe counting of absentee ballots in certain circumstances; and to provide that any absentee ballot received by mail a certain number of calendar days after the election shall be deemed a provisional ballot.