1 HB145
2 208830-1
3 By Representative Hurst
4 RFD: Constitution, Campaigns and Elections
5 First Read: 02-FEB-21
6 PFD: 01/26/2021
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1 208830-1:n:01/11/2021:AHP/ma LSA2020-2400
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8 SYNOPSIS: Existing law provides that a qualified voter
9 who has a permanent disability preventing his or
10 her attendance at the polls may vote by absentee
11 ballot.
12 This bill would provide that a qualified
13 voter who is blind or visually impaired, if
14 verified by the Alabama Institute for Deaf and
15 Blind, may vote by absentee ballot.
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17 A BILL
18 TO BE ENTITLED
19 AN ACT
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21 Relating to elections; to amend Section 17-11-3.1,
22 Code of Alabama 1975; to provide that a qualified voter who is
23 visually impaired may vote by absentee ballot under certain
24 conditions.
25 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
26 Section 1. Section 17-11-3.1, Code of Alabama 1975,
27 is amended to read as follows:
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1 "17-11-3.1.
2 "(a) Notwithstanding Sections 17-11-3, 17-11-4, and
3 17-11-5, a qualified voter who has a permanent disability
4 preventing his or her attendance at the polls may vote by
5 absentee ballot in accordance with this section.
6 "(b) The Secretary of State shall adopt rules that
7 provide a process for a voter who has a permanent disability
8 to be placed on an absentee voter list and have a ballot
9 automatically mailed to him or her before each election. The
10 rules shall include, but not be limited to, all of the
11 following:
12 "(1) An application procedure for permanently
13 disabled voters to vote by absentee ballot on an on-going
14 basis. The procedure shall require that the application form
15 be signed and notarized by the disabled voter's primary
16 physician.
17 "(2) A procedure for verifying the identity of a
18 voter and determining that the voter has a permanent
19 disability preventing his or her attendance at the polls.
20 "(3) A procedure for the voter to apply to the
21 absentee ballot manager on an annual basis.
22 "(4) A procedure for automatically mailing absentee
23 ballots before each election in a timely manner to permanently
24 disabled voters who have been placed on the absentee voter
25 list.
26 "(c) Notwithstanding Sections 17-11-3, 17-11-4, and
27 17-11-5, a qualified voter who is blind or visually impaired
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1 and confirmed as blind or visually impaired by the Alabama
2 Institute for Deaf and Blind through a written signed
3 affidavit may vote by absentee ballot in accordance with this
4 section.
5 "(d) The Secretary of State shall adopt rules that
6 provide a process for a voter who is confirmed as blind or
7 visually impaired to be placed on an absentee voter list and
8 have a ballot automatically transmitted to him or her before
9 each election. The rules shall include, but not be limited to,
10 all of the following:
11 "(1) An application procedure for a voter who is
12 blind or visually impaired to vote by absentee ballot on an
13 ongoing basis.
14 "(2) A procedure for automatically transmitting
15 absentee ballots before each election in a timely manner to
16 voters who are blind or visually impaired."
17 Section 2. This act shall become effective
18 immediately following its passage and approval by the
19 Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 17-11-3