Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB59 Compare Versions

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

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1	1	HB59INTRODUCED
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3	3	HB59
4	4	K8PW555-1
5	5	By Representative Jackson
6	6	RFD: Constitution, Campaigns and Elections
7	7	First Read: 04-Feb-25
8	8	PFD: 07-Nov-24
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14	14	6 K8PW555-1 09/10/2024 ANS (L)ANS 2024-2515
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16	16	PFD: 07-Nov-24
17	17	SYNOPSIS:
18	18	Under existing law, a voter in Alabama may vote
19	19	only on election day unless he or she has an excuse to
20	20	vote by absentee ballot.
21	21	This bill would require each county to provide
22	22	at least one early voting center to be open during the
23	23	week immediately preceding election day, which would
24	24	allow registered voters to vote prior to election day.
25	25	This bill would prescribe the hours of operation
26	26	for each early voting center.
27	27	This bill would clarify that this act does not
28	28	impair or affect the powers and duties of boards of
29	29	registrars, judges of probate, and other election
30	30	officials.
31	31	This bill would also require the Secretary of
32	32	State to adopt rules.
33	33	A BILL
34	34	TO BE ENTITLED
35	35	AN ACT
36	36	Relating to elections; to require each county to
37	37	provide at least one early voting center to be open during the
38	38	week immediately preceding election day to allow registered
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66	66	28 HB59 INTRODUCED
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68	68	week immediately preceding election day to allow registered
69	69	voters to vote prior to election day; to prescribe the hours
70	70	of operation for each early voting center; and to clarify that
71	71	this act does not impair or affect the powers and duties of
72	72	boards of registrars, judges of probate, and other election
73	73	officials.
74	74	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
75	75	Section 1. (a) As used in this section, "early voting
76	76	center" means a location where registered voters may vote not
77	77	less than four days nor more than six days during the one-week
78	78	period immediately preceding election day.
79	79	(b) The governing body of each county shall designate
80	80	and provide at least one early voting center. If a governing
81	81	body designates more than one, the governing body shall have
82	82	the sole authority to configure boundaries for each early
83	83	voting center in the county. The governing body shall
84	84	determine the days an early voting center may be open for
85	85	early voting; provided, however, an early voting center shall
86	86	be open not less than four days nor more than six days during
87	87	the one-week period immediately preceding election day. Hours
88	88	of operation for each early voting center shall be as follows:
89	89	(1) On weekdays and Saturdays, early voting centers
90	90	shall be open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
91	91	(2) On Sundays, early voting centers shall be open 1:00
92	92	p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
93	93	(c) Any registered voter may vote in the appropriate
94	94	early voting center located in his or her county.
95	95	(d) Nothing in this section shall impair or affect the
96	96	powers and duties of boards of registrars, judges of probate,
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126	126	powers and duties of boards of registrars, judges of probate,
127	127	and other election officials under Title 17, Code of Alabama
128	128	1975, nor shall it affect the procedures and requirements for
129	129	election day voting.
130	130	(e) The Secretary of State shall adopt rules for the
131	131	implementation and administration of this section.
132	132	Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
133	133	1, 2025.
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