HB209 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jamie KielRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to voting; to prohibit any person from distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, completing, obtaining, or delivering an absentee ballot application or absentee ballot of another person in certain circumstances; to provide for exceptions; to prohibit a person from receiving a payment or providing a payment to another person for distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, completing, obtaining, or delivering an absentee ballot application or absentee ballot of another person in certain circumstance; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.

Summary

HB209 would restrict most third-party help with absentee ballots and ballot applications for others, set who can assist, impose penalties for violations, and clarify funding rules.

What This Bill Does

The bill makes it unlawful to knowingly distribute, request, collect, obtain, or deliver an absentee ballot or its application for another person, except for a defined list of allowed helpers. It also bars third parties from receiving or paying for such assistance, with felony penalties for violations. It provides an affirmative defense for certain help to voters who are blind, disabled, or unable to read or write. It excludes U.S. citizens voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and states the local-funds rule does not apply because the bill creates a new crime; it becomes effective immediately after the governor signs it.

Who It Affects

• Voters who use or request absentee ballots may be restricted in who can assist them and under what circumstances.
• Family members and household residents who might assist with absentee ballot tasks are limited to specific allowed relationships or conditions.
• Election officials and offices (Secretary of State staff, probate staff, county or municipal absentee election managers) who may assist or oversee absentee voting.
• People who currently provide or could be paid to provide assistance with absentee ballots, who would face criminal penalties if they engage in prohibited activity.
• Guardians, conservators, or other individuals appointed by the probate court who assist voters.
• Voters who are blind, disabled, or unable to read or write, who may receive designated assistance under a federal provision.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits knowingly distributing, requesting, collecting, prefilling, obtaining, or delivering an absentee ballot or its application for another person, with some exceptions.
• Lists who may provide legitimate assistance: close family, long-term household residents, designated state or local election officials, probate officials or staff, county/municipal election managers, guardians or conservators.
• Imposes a Class D felony for violations of the general assistance prohibition.
• Prohibits third parties from receiving or paying for such assistance; violations carry Class C (receiving payment) or Class B (paying for assistance) felonies.
• Provides an affirmative defense for certain assistance to voters who are blind, disabled, or unable to read or write under federal law.
• Excludes Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act voters from these restrictions and notes the local-funds requirement is waived because the bill creates a new crime.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.