HB396 Alabama 2021 Session

Under existing law, an application for an absentee ballot must be received not less than five days before an election

Under existing law, a registered voter may only vote by absentee ballot if he or she meets one of the criteria prescribed by law for voting absentee

Under existing law, the absentee manager must begin delivering sealed affidavit envelopes containing absentee ballots to elections officials by noon on election day

Also, under existing law, an absentee ballot may not be counted unless it is postmarked as of the date prior to the day of the election

This bill would allow the absentee election manager to appoint additional assistants

This bill would require mailed absentee ballot applications to be received 10 days before an election and hand delivered applications to be received five days before an election

This bill would also allow a registered voter to vote by absentee ballot without an excuse

This bill would require the absentee election manager to begin delivering sealed affidavit envelopes containing absentee ballots to elections officials at an earlier time on election day

This bill would eliminate the requirement that an absentee ballot be postmarked as of the date prior to the day of the election

Relating to voting; to amend Section 17-11-2, Code of Alabama 1975, Sections 17-11-3 and 17-11-7, Code of Alabama 1975, as last amended by Act 2019-507 of the 2019 Regular Session, Section 17-11-10, Code of Alabama 1975, Section 17-11-14, as last amended by Act 2019-415 of the 2019 Regular Session, and Section 17-11-18, Code of Alabama 1975, as last amended by Act 2019-507 of the 2019 Regular Session; to allow the absentee election manager to appoint additional assistants; to further provide for absentee ballot applications; to authorize absentee voting without an excuse; to provide further for the process of counting absentee ballots; and to eliminate the requirement that an absentee ballot be postmarked as of the date prior to the day of the election.