HB521 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Matt Simpson Representative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to voting; to authorize the Secretary of State to offer certain state residents the ability to register their political party affiliation and provide a list of party registrants to a political party in certain circumstances; to provide criminal penalties for violations; to provide for the repeal of this act on a certain date; 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.

Description

There is no provision in state law that provides for political party registration.

This bill would authorize the Secretary of State to create a form posted on its website to allow residents of voting age to register a political party affiliation with the Secretary of State.

This bill would authorize the Secretary of State to provide a political party with a list of registrants with that political party under certain circumstances.

This bill would provide for criminal penalties for violations.

This bill would be repealed on January 1, 2027.

Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose.

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds HB521 INTRODUCED within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment.

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Subjects

Political parties; Secretary of State authorized to register party affiliation of residents