SB318 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Merika ColemanSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Elections; revise dates for submissions to qualify on ballot

Summary

SB318 would move Alabama's ballot-access deadlines to 74 days before an election (instead of 82), and align related nomination and presidential-elector filing timelines accordingly.

What This Bill Does

It changes the deadline for political parties to certify candidates from 82 days before an election to 74 days before an election, and updates other related deadlines to match this new timeline. It affects how nominating certificates and independent candidacies are filed, when names appear on ballots, and how amendments or withdrawals are handled without triggering a ballot reprint. It also adjusts the process for nominating presidential and vice-presidential candidates and their electors, including signatures and filing rules, to align with the revised lead time. The act takes effect immediately.

Who It Affects

• Political parties and candidates: deadlines to certify nominees and to file nominating certificates or independent candidacies shift to 74 days before the election, changing planning and ballot access timelines.
• Election officials (Secretary of State, judges of probate, canvassing boards, and county election offices): responsible for implementing the new 74-day deadlines, preparing ballots, and processing amendments or withdrawals under the revised rules.

Key Provisions

• The deadline for finalizing nominations by party state executives is reduced to 74 days before the primary or general election, with related changes to ensure party and independent candidates can appear on the ballot under the new timeline.
• Related deadlines in Sections 17-6-21, 17-9-3, 17-13-22, and 17-14-31 are amended to conform to the 74-day timeline for elections statewide.
• Amendments filed after the 74-day window may be accepted but will not require reprinting of ballots; a candidate who withdraws or is disqualified remains on the ballot and votes for that candidate are not certified.
• Ballot printing rules: a candidate’s name appears on the ballot only if properly certified and accepted; certain cross-nomination restrictions remain to prevent printing names of candidates from different party nominations in the same year.
• Presidential electors: the Secretary of State must certify presidential and vice-presidential nominees (from national conventions or petitions) with filing requirements and signatures, aligned to the new 74-day election timeline.

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