Alabama 2024 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB23 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	HB23INTRODUCED
2	2	Page 0
3	3	HB23
4	4	8N4WH2F-1
5	5	By Representative Hassell
6	6	RFD: Constitution, Campaigns and Elections
7	7	First Read: 05-Feb-24
8	8	2024 Regular Session
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14	14	6 8N4WH2F-1 11/28/2023 PMG (L)lmg 2023-3626
15	15	Page 1
16	16	2024 Regular Session
17	17	SYNOPSIS:
18	18	Under existing law, in order to vote by absentee
19	19	ballot, an elector must complete an absentee ballot
20	20	application, which includes checking off the reason he
21	21	or she wishes to vote by absentee ballot from a
22	22	specified list of reasons. When the elector submits the
23	23	absentee ballot to cast his or her vote, the elector
24	24	must again check off the reason for voting absentee on
25	25	the affidavit submitted with the absentee ballot.
26	26	This bill would remove from the affidavit form
27	27	the list of reasons for voting by absentee ballot.
28	28	A BILL
29	29	TO BE ENTITLED
30	30	AN ACT
31	31	Relating to voting; to amend Section 17-11-7, Code of
32	32	Alabama 1975, to remove from the affidavit that accompanies an
33	33	absentee ballot certain information that was collected from
34	34	the voter when the voter applied to vote by absentee ballot.
35	35	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
36	36	Section 1. Section 17-11-7, Code of Alabama 1975, is
37	37	amended to read as follows:
38	38	"§17-11-7
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66	66	28 HB23 INTRODUCED
67	67	Page 2
68	68	"§17-11-7
69	69	(a) Each absentee ballot shall be accompanied by an
70	70	envelope upon which shall be printed an affidavit.
71	71	(b) With respect to an absentee ballot cast pursuant to
72	72	Section 17-11-3, the affidavit shall read as follows:
73	73	"State of Alabama
74	74	County of ___________
75	75	I, the undersigned, do swear (or affirm) that:
76	76	My place of residence in Alabama is:________________
77	77	(street)____________________, Alabama __________(city or
78	78	town)(zip code)
79	79	My date of birth is: __________ month day year
80	80	I am entitled to vote an absentee ballot because:
81	81	Check at least one:
82	82	___ I expect to be out of the county or the state on
83	83	election day.
84	84	___ I am physically incapacitated and will not be able
85	85	to vote in person on election day.
86	86	___ I expect to work a required workplace shift which
87	87	has at least 10 hours which coincide with the polling hours at
88	88	my regular polling place.
89	89	___ I am a student at an educational institution
90	90	located outside the county of my permanent residence and am
91	91	therefore unable to vote at my usual polling place on election
92	92	day.
93	93	___ I am a member of or a spouse or dependent of a
94	94	member of the Armed Forces of the United States or am
95	95	otherwise entitled to vote pursuant to the federal Uniformed
96	96	and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff.
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124	124	56 HB23 INTRODUCED
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126	126	and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff.
127	127	___ I have been appointed as an election officer at a
128	128	polling place which is not my regular polling place.
129	129	___ I will be out of the county on election day
130	130	responding to a state of emergency as declared by this state
131	131	or any other state, or by the federal government.
132	132	___ I am a caregiver for a family member to the second
133	133	degree of kinship by affinity or consanguinity and the family
134	134	member is confined to his or her home.
135	135	___ I am currently incarcerated in prison or jail and I
136	136	have not been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude.
137	137	I am entitled to vote an absentee ballot for the reason
138	138	specified on my absentee ballot application.
139	139	I further swear (or affirm) that I have not voted nor
140	140	will I vote in person in the election to which this ballot
141	141	pertains.
142	142	I have marked the enclosed absentee ballot voluntarily
143	143	and I have read or had read to me and understand the
144	144	instructions accompanying this ballot and I have carefully
145	145	complied with such instructions.
146	146	Moreover, I further swear (or affirm) that all of the
147	147	information given above is true and correct to the best of my
148	148	knowledge and that I understand that by knowingly giving false
149	149	information so as to vote illegally by absentee ballot that I
150	150	shall be guilty of a misdemeanor which is punishable by a fine
151	151	not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or confinement in
152	152	the county jail for not more than six months, or both.
153	153	_________________(Signature or mark of
154	154	voter.)___________________(Printed name of voter.)
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182	182	84 HB23 INTRODUCED
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184	184	voter.)___________________(Printed name of voter.)
185	185	IF YOUR AFFIDAVIT IS NOT SIGNED (OR MARKED), AND IF
186	186	YOUR AFFIDAVIT IS NOT WITNESSED BY TWO WITNESSES 18 YEARS OF
187	187	AGE OR OLDER OR A NOTARY PUBLIC OR OTHER OFFICER AUTHORIZED TO
188	188	ACKNOWLEDGE OATHS , PRIOR TO BEING DELIVERED OR MAILED TO THE
189	189	ABSENTEE ELECTION MANAGER, YOUR BALLOT WILL NOT BE COUNTED.
190	190	Sworn to and subscribed before me this _____ day of
191	191	_____, 2__.
192	192	I certify that the affiant is known (or made known) to
193	193	me to be the identical party he or she claims to be.
194	194	___________________ (Signature of official) (Title of
195	195	official) ___________________ (Address of official) OR 1st
196	196	Witness____________ Signature _____________ Print name
197	197	_____________ Address ______________ City Zip Code
198	198	2nd Witness______________ Signature _____________ Print
199	199	name _____________ Address ______________ City Zip Code"
200	200	(c) Unless running unopposed, a candidate may not
201	201	witness or notarize any absentee ballot."
202	202	Section 2. This act shall become effective on January
203	203	1, 2025.
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