SB47 Alabama 2022 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Clyde ChamblissSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2022
Title: Voting, paper ballot as integral part of state's electronic vote counting system, required, Sec. 17-7-23 am'd.
Summary: SB47 requires Alabama’s electronic vote counting systems to use a voter-marked, inspectable paper ballot before counting.
What This Bill Does
It mandates that any approved electronic voting system must require a paper ballot that the voter marks and can inspect before the vote is counted. It keeps the certification process where the Alabama Electronic Voting Committee certifies systems that meet federal standards and the paper-ballot requirement, and it requires vendors to pay examination costs with no financial interest for examiners. After certification, any changes must be re-certified before counties adopt them, and noncompliant changes can lead to suspension of sales; the bill also affirms that electronic voting with electronic ballots remains an accepted method.

Who It Affects
Voters: gain a verifiable, voter-marked paper ballot that can be inspected before their vote is counted.
Vendors and election officials (counties): must use certified systems that include a voter-marked paper ballot, pay examination costs, and ensure any changes receive re-certification; noncompliant systems could be restricted from use.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 17-7-23 to require electronic vote counting systems to use a paper ballot marked by the voter and inspectable before counting.
Paper ballots may be hand-marked or produced by a disability-accessible marking device.
Certification process: the committee publicly examines systems, may use an independent testing authority, and vendors must pay examination costs; examiners must have no financial interest.
Post-certification rules: any changes to certified systems must be recertified before adoption by counties, and noncompliant changes can lead to suspension of sales.
Validation note: the bill reaffirms that adopting electronic vote counting systems that record votes electronically is an acceptable method.

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