The first bill has been filed for the 2024 Alabama legislative session, and its purpose is to tighten up the rules regarding absentee ballots, reports AL.com's Mike Cason.
It's a Republican-backed measure that passed the house in May but didn't come up in the Senate.
It would make it a misdemeanor offense for people to provide an absentee-ballot application for another voter, with some notable acceptions. A voter's family members, people who share a household with the voter, or people helping a voter who is blind, disabled or cannot read and write, would be permitted to provide the absentee-ballot application.
What the bill is targeting, say its backers, are unsolicited applications provided by people who are paid by campaigns, activist organizations, or anyone doing it for political influence.
Another absentee-ballot issue you often hear about ballot harvesting. That's where third parties collect absentee ballots and mail them in for the voter or take them to the polls. That is already illegal in Alabama. Backers of this proposed bill say it will clarify that law.
Opponents say this bill could criminalize friends, neighbor, fellow church members and volunteers who help a voter obtain an absentee ballot.
