HB448 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Anthony DanielsRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Elections; revise dates for submissions to qualify on ballot

Summary

HB448 would move most ballot qualification deadlines earlier from 82 days to 74 days before elections, aligning party nominations, independent candidacies, and presidential elector processes with an earlier timeline.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill shifts the deadline for certifying party nominees and independent candidates to 74 days before an election (from 82 days) and updates related filing deadlines with the Secretary of State and the judge of probate. It adjusts deadlines for primary and general elections and for presidential elector nominations to match this 74-day timeline, and it specifies how late amendments to certifications are handled (accepted but not cause reprinting). It also keeps rules governing ballot printing, such as requiring each candidate’s name to appear once and under one emblem, and outlines what happens if a candidate withdraws or is disqualified after the deadline. The act becomes effective immediately.

Who It Affects

• Political parties (state executive committees and canvassing boards) - must certify nominees by the earlier 74-day deadline and coordinate with the judge of probate or Secretary of State regarding filings.
• Candidates and petition organizers (caucus/convention/independent nominees) - face earlier deadlines for nominating petitions, certifications, and qualification steps, and must ensure filings and signatures meet the new timeline.

Key Provisions

• Deadline shift: Most deadlines to qualify for the general election are moved from 82 days before the election to 74 days before the election.
• Nomination finalization: State executive committees must finalize nominations no later than 74 days before the primary or general election; late amendments may be accepted but will not trigger ballot reprinting.
• Independent candidacy: Independent candidates must file petitions and required information by the new 74-day deadline, with signatures equal to at least 3% of the qualified electors who voted for Governor in the last general election (location-dependent).
• Ballot printing: Ballots must print the names of qualified candidates once, under a single emblem; withdrawals or disqualifications after the deadline keep the withdrawn name on the ballot and do not replace it with another candidate.
• Presidential electors: Nominations for President and Vice President by national conventions or petitions must be filed by deadlines aligned with the 74-day window, including signatures and consent statements from electors.
• Effective date: The act takes effect immediately.

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