HB95 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Thomas JacksonRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to voting; to amend Sections 17-11-3 and 17-11-7, Code of Alabama 1975; to authorize absentee voting without an excuse.

Summary

HB95 would let registered Alabama voters vote absentee without needing an excuse, expanding how and when they can cast an absentee ballot.

What This Bill Does

HB95 amends Sections 17-11-3 and 17-11-7 to allow a qualified elector to apply for and vote an absentee ballot by mail, hand delivery, or commercial carrier in any election with a written application. It lists several scenarios that would qualify a voter to use an absentee ballot, such as being out of the county or state, illness, long work shifts, being a student away from home, military or overseas status, or serving as an election worker elsewhere. The bill sets deadlines for applications (seven days before for mail and five days before for hand delivery) and adds emergency absentee voting options if emergencies make in-person voting impractical, with costs covered by the state. It also includes rules about preventing counting of multiple ballots and requires affidavit language and witnessing rules.

Who It Affects

• All registered voters in Alabama who would be able to vote absentee without needing to prove a specific excuse
• Voters who fall into the listed qualifying circumstances (out of county/state, illness, long work shifts, away at school, military/overseas, election workers assigned elsewhere, caregivers, incarceration without certain felony conviction)

Key Provisions

• Authorizes absentee voting without an excuse by amending Sections 17-11-3 and 17-11-7 to allow absentee ballots by mail, hand delivery, or carrier with a written application.
• Lists qualifying circumstances for absentee voting (out of county/state, illness, long work shifts, student away from residence, military or overseas voters, election officer or poll watcher at a different polling place, caregiver, incarceration without felony conviction).
• Sets application deadlines: mail applications must be received at least seven days before the election; hand-delivered applications must be received at least five days before.
• Provides emergency absentee ballots and emergency-rule provisions if emergencies prevent substantial compliance, with costs paid by the State of Alabama.
• Contains rules to prevent counting of multiple absentee ballots for the same voter and requires affidavit language and witnessing/notarization requirements.
• States the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor’s approval.

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

Subjects

Voting, to authorize absentee voting without an excuse.