1 HB396
2 217887-1
3 By Representative Rogers
4 RFD: Constitution, Campaigns and Elections
5 First Read: 22-FEB-22
Page 0 1 217887-1:n:02/22/2022:ANS/cr LSA2022-682
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8 SYNOPSIS: This bill would authorize a judge of probate
9 to appoint up to one high school student to work as
10 a precinct election official at each polling place
11 in the county on election day.
12 This bill would provide qualifications for a
13 student to serve as a precinct election official
14 and allow the student to count any absence from
15 school resulting from his or her service as a
16 precinct election official as an excused absence.
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18 A BILL
19 TO BE ENTITLED
20 AN ACT
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22 Relating to elections; to authorize a judge of
23 probate to appoint up to one high school student to work as a
24 poll worker at each polling place in the county on election
25 day; to provide qualifications for a student to serve as a
26 precinct election official and allow the student to count any
Page 1 1 absence from school resulting from his or her service as a
2 precinct election official as an excused absence.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
4 Section 1. (a) Notwithstanding Section 17-8-1(a),
5 Code of Alabama 1975, the judge of probate in each county may
6 appoint not more than one student for each precinct to serve
7 as a precinct election official. To be appointed as a precinct
8 election official, the student must meet all of the following
9 qualifications:
10 (1) Be a high school student at the time of
11 the election for which the appointment is made.
12 (2) Be a resident of the county or municipality for
13 which the appointment is made.
14 (3) Be enrolled in a public high school, an
15 accredited private high school, or a home instruction program.
16 (b) The duties of the student precinct election
17 official appointed pursuant to this section shall be
18 determined by the officials in charge of the election in the
19 county or municipality; provided, however, the duties may not
20 include either of the following:
21 (1) Determining the qualifications of a voter in the
22 event a voter is challenged.
23 (2) The operation and maintenance of any voting
24 equipment.
25 (c) Student precinct election officials appointed
26 pursuant to this section shall at all times be under the
Page 2 1 supervision of the poll managers of the election while
2 performing their duties at precincts.
3 (d) Before performing any duties, student precinct
4 election officials shall attend all required training for
5 precinct election officials of the county or municipality and
6 any additional training considered necessary by the officials
7 in charge of the election in the county or municipality.
8 (e) A student precinct election official who works
9 four or more hours in a day during school hours on the day of
10 an election or any day of training shall be entitled to an
11 excused absence from school for purposes of Chapter 28 of
12 Title 16, Code of Alabama 1975.
13 Section 2. This act shall become effective on the
14 first day of the third month following its passage and
15 approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
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