1 HB102
2 208895-1
3 By Representative Rogers
4 RFD: Constitution, Campaigns and Elections
5 First Read: 02-FEB-21
6 PFD: 12/17/2020
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1 208895-1:n:12/14/2020:AHP/bm LSA2020-2520
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8 SYNOPSIS: Under existing law, electors may only vote
9 on election day, with the exception of absentee
10 voting.
11 This bill would establish an advance voting
12 period during which qualified electors, without
13 excuse, may vote at a designated advance voting
14 center before election day.
15 This bill would provide for the hours of
16 operation for each advance voting center.
17 This bill would require judges of probate to
18 manage advance voting and require appointing boards
19 to appoint poll workers to work at advance voting
20 centers.
21 This bill would also require the Secretary
22 of State to adopt rules.
23
24 A BILL
25 TO BE ENTITLED
26 AN ACT
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1 Relating to voting; to establish an advance voting
2 period during which qualified electors, without excuse, may
3 vote at a designated advance voting center before election
4 day; to provide for the minimum days and hours of operation
5 for each advance voting center; to require judges of probate
6 to manage advance voting and require appointing boards to
7 appoint poll workers to work at advance voting centers; and to
8 require the Secretary of State to adopt rules.
9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
10 Section 1. (a) The Secretary of State, by rule,
11 shall establish a procedure by which a registered voter may
12 cast his or her ballot, without excuse, during an advance
13 voting period for an election at an advance voting center in
14 the county in which he or she resides, as provided in this
15 section.
16 (b) This section shall apply to all elections.
17 (c) The judge of probate in each county shall be
18 responsible for managing advance voting. Prior to an election,
19 the judge of probate shall designate and provide at least one
20 advance voting center in the county. If a judge of probate
21 designates more than one voting center, the judge of probate
22 shall configure boundaries for each advance voting center in
23 the county. All advance voting centers in a county shall have
24 the same hours of operation.
25 (d) The advance voting period shall commence on the
26 fourth Monday of the month immediately preceding the month of
27 the election and shall end on the Friday immediately preceding
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1 the election. Advance voting centers shall be open for voting,
2 at a minimum, during normal business hours on weekdays and
3 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The judge of probate
4 may extend the hours of operation to suit the needs of the
5 electors of the jurisdiction.
6 (e) The judge of probate shall provide reasonable
7 notice to the electors of the jurisdiction of the availability
8 of advance voting as well as the times, dates, and locations
9 of advance voting centers.
10 (f) The appointing board responsible for appointing
11 poll workers, as provided in Section 17-8-1, Code of Alabama
12 1975, shall be responsible for appointing poll workers to work
13 during the advance voting period.
14 (g) Nothing in this section shall impair or affect
15 the powers and duties of boards of registrars, judges of
16 probate, and other election officials under Title 17, Code of
17 Alabama 1975, nor shall it affect the procedures and
18 requirements for voter registration and election day voting.
19 Section 2. This act shall become effective on the
20 first day of the third month following its passage and
21 approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
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