Alabama House Bill HB354

Alabama 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/15/22
• Refer: 2/15/22

Caption

Absentee voting, requiring photo ID with absentee ballot, prohibiting absentee election manager and circuit clerk from extending operating hours, requiring absentee election manager to submit report, Secs. 17-9-30, 17-11-2, 17-11-4, 17-11-5, 17-11-11, 17-11-18 am'd.

Impact

The bill introduces several key changes to absentee voting procedures. It prohibits the absentee election manager and circuit clerk from extending operating hours beyond their normal business times during election years. Additionally, absentee ballots must include an identifying tracking number and will be deemed provisional if received after a specified period post-election. These adjustments are designed to tighten regulations around absentee voting and may lead to decreased accessibility for some voters who may have relied on extended hours for ballot submission.

Summary

House Bill 354 seeks to amend existing laws regarding absentee voting procedures in Alabama. Notably, it mandates that voters must submit a valid photo ID with their absentee ballot instead of when applying for the ballot itself. This change aims to enhance the verification process for absentee voting. Further, the bill proposes that the absentee election manager must report certain absentee ballot requests to the Secretary of State and Attorney General, ensuring a level of oversight and accountability in the absentee voting process.

Contention

The proposed amendments have sparked discussions around their implications for electoral access and transparency. Supporters argue that requiring ID with the ballot will reduce potential electoral fraud and improve voter verification. In contrast, critics contend that these requirements could disenfranchise certain groups of voters, particularly those who may struggle to obtain valid photo identification or those who depend on the flexibility of extended voting hours, leading to debates over the balance between security and accessibility in the voting process.