HB308 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim CarnsRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Elections, required publication of registered voters, exception provided

Summary

HB308 would create a cost-based exception to the requirement to publish the registered voters list before a primary and add rules for certification and supplemental lists.

What This Bill Does

Under current law, the judge of probate must publish the list of registered voters before a primary. HB308 would allow counties to skip publication if the cost would exceed $40,000 and would require a certification from the state voter registration system showing the list is complete as of the print date. If omissions are found, the missing names can be added within 10 days with proper proof, and a supplemental list must be published at least seven days before the primary.

Who It Affects

• County election officials (judge of probate, boards of registrars, and the county commission) – affected by the new cost-based publication exception, certification requirements, and rules for publishing supplemental lists.
• Registered voters and newspaper readers in the county – affected by how their names appear on the published list, the 10-day window to correct omissions, and the timing of any supplemental publication before the primary.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 17-4-1 to provide an exception to the required publication of the voter list if the publication cost would exceed $40,000.
• Requires the list to be accompanied by a printed certification from the state voter registration system verifying all qualified electors are listed as of the specified time/date.
• Allows added names to be included within 10 days after proper proof and requires a supplemental list to be published if omissions are found.
• Allows publication as a preprinted or inserted advertising supplement at a cost not greater than the newspaper's lowest national insertion rate; sets formatting standards (size, paper, etc.) and prohibits other advertising in the supplement.
• Gives the county commission discretion to publish the list in more than one newspaper within the county.
• Effective date of October 1, 2025.

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