Alabama House Bill HB131

Alabama 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/22
• Refer: 1/13/22

Caption

Elections, voter lists, judge of probate to place public voter lists on Internet public notice website maintained by Sec. of State, counties authorized to opt out, municipalities authorized to publish municipal voter lists on Sec. of State notice website, Secs. 11-46-36, 17-4-1 am'd.

Impact

The act requires the Secretary of State to develop and maintain a public notice website for voter lists. While the bill allows counties to opt-out of this electronic publication method, it also mandates that the Secretary of State ensure these lists are available 24/7 online and are archived for public access. This move is expected to enhance the efficiency and transparency of the electoral process, making it easier for voters to verify their registration status and obtain necessary voting information.

Summary

House Bill 131, known as the Voter List Publication Savings and Modernization Act, proposes an amendment to the existing laws on how registered voter lists are published in Alabama. The bill requires the Judge of Probate in each county to publish the list of registered voters on a public notice website maintained by the Secretary of State prior to each primary election, shifting from traditional newspaper announcements. This initiative aims to provide a more accessible and modern approach to voter registration information, ensuring that all residents have free access to this data online.

Conclusion

Overall, HB 131 represents an important step towards modernizing election processes in Alabama. The push for electronic publishing is part of a broader trend to enhance voter engagement and facilitate better access to public information. However, the debate over opt-out provisions illustrates the ongoing discussion about balancing local control with the need for a unified and transparent voting system.

Contention

Notably, there is a provision allowing individual county commissions to opt-out of using the public notice website if a majority vote finds it inadequate for public notice needs. This clause has raised concerns among advocates of voter access and transparency, who worry that opting out may lead to inconsistent availability of voter registration information across the state. Critics are also concerned about the potential for reliance on outdated methods of publication if counties choose to continue publishing in newspapers, which may not be as accessible to residents.