HB54 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to electronic vote counting systems; to amend Section 17-7-21, Code of Alabama 1975, to prohibit the use of electronic vote counting systems that are capable of connection to the Internet or cell phone networks or that possess modem technology.

Summary

HB54 would ban electronic vote counting systems that can connect to the Internet, cell networks, or have modem technology, and require offline systems with specific features.

What This Bill Does

It amends Section 17-7-21 to prohibit using electronic vote counting systems capable of Internet, cell-network, or modem connections. It allows local governments to authorize electronic counting by resolution, but any allowed system must operate offline and meet a detailed set of voting, counting, and reporting requirements. The bill also specifies how such systems must function and sets an effective date after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Local governments (counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions) would decide whether to use electronic vote counting and must ensure equipment meets offline criteria and implementation procedures.
• Voters and election administrators would experience changes in voting and counting processes, including secrecy, accurate tallies, write-ins, straight-party voting rules, and precinct-level reporting, all without Internet or modem connectivity.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits use of electronic vote counting systems that are capable of connecting to the Internet, cell phone networks, or that possess modem technology.
• Allows local governing bodies to authorize, adopt, and direct the use of such systems by resolution, which must specify the equipment and implementation procedures.
• Requires any allowed system to ensure voting secrecy, allow votes for all eligible offices and candidates, and count votes accurately.
• Requires the system to support straight-ticket voting in non-primary elections, reject overvotes or ineligible votes, and provide a write-in voting method.
• In presidential elections, permits a single operation for voting all electors of a party or independent candidates for president/vice president, and to tally precincts and ballots by office and question.
• Demands the system accumulate precinct totals, tallies by candidate and by question, handle cross-party primary votes, and produce printed or marked precinct totals with correct certification.
• System must not connect to the Internet or cell networks and must not have modem technology.
• Effective date: the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

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