The Safeguard Alabama Voter Engagement (SAVE) Act proposes significant amendments to Alabama's election laws, particularly concerning party affiliation and participation in primary elections. Effective January 1, 2027, the bill mandates that voters must register their political party affiliation to vote in countywide or statewide primary elections, with options for online registration, local registrars, or at polling places on election day. It introduces a 60-day blackout period before primary elections during which voters cannot change their party affiliation. Additionally, the bill requires political parties to publish candidate qualifications on their websites and mandates the Secretary of State to retain specific voter history information.

Key changes include the repeal of the prohibition on crossover voting between primary and runoff elections, and the revision of the voter application form to include a section for party registration. The bill also clarifies that unaffiliated voters can register with a political party at any time. Furthermore, it alters the terminology from "persons" to "individuals" and specifies that only registered members of a political party can vote in primary elections. The act also removes previous provisions allowing political parties to set their own qualifications for voting and candidacy, while still permitting them to establish assessments for candidates. Overall, the SAVE Act aims to enhance voter engagement and ensure clarity in party affiliation during primary elections.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 17-13-1, 17-13-7, 17-3-52, 17-13-7
Engrossed: 17-13-1, 17-13-7, 17-3-52, 17-13-7