HB117 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Thomas JacksonRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Voting, authorizing absentee voting without excuse

Summary

HB117 would let any qualified Alabama voter vote absentee without an excuse in elections.

What This Bill Does

It amends Sections 17-11-3 and 17-11-7 to authorize no-excuse absentee voting. Voters may apply for and vote an absentee ballot by mail, hand delivery, or commercial carrier in any primary, general, special, or municipal election after meeting one or more listed circumstances (such as being out of the county/state, illness, working a long shift, being a student away from home, military or overseas status, or serving as an election worker elsewhere). It sets deadlines for applications (mail: at least 7 days before; hand-delivered: at least 5 days before) and creates provisions for emergency absentee ballots and emergency rules during emergencies. It requires signed affidavits with penalties for false information and includes rules about handling multiple ballots; the act becomes effective October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• All registered Alabama voters: gain no-excuse absentee voting options in any election.
• Voters who are away from their home county/state, are ill, work long shifts during polling hours, are students outside their county, or are election workers assigned elsewhere: qualify for an absentee ballot under the listed criteria.
• Military and overseas voters and their spouses or dependents (and others eligible under federal law): may use absentee voting and related forms (e.g., Federal Postcard Application).
• Voters who are incarcerated but have not been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude: may vote absentee under the new process.
• People facing emergencies or state/federal emergencies: may use emergency absentee ballots under the new rules.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes no-excuse absentee voting by amending Sections 17-11-3 and 17-11-7.
• Adds eight eligibility criteria for absentee voting, including being out of county/state, illness, long work shifts, away at school, military/overseas status, election officer or poll watcher assigned elsewhere, caregiver, or incarceration without a qualifying felony conviction.
• Sets application deadlines: mail applications must be received at least 7 days before the election; hand-delivered applications at least 5 days before.
• Allows military and overseas voters to use the Federal Postcard Application form for absentee ballots.
• Provides emergency absentee ballots and an emergency-rule process during declared emergencies, with costs paid by the State of Alabama from election funds.
• Addresses the handling of more than one absentee ballot cast in a voter's name (ballots not opened or counted except in an election contest; after contest, handled by the district attorney/AG as appropriate).
• Requires affidavits for each absentee ballot, with specific language, witnesses/notaries, penalties for false information, and a prescribed oath process.
• Effective date: October 1, 2024.

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, Voting, & Campaigns