1 SB378
2 212626-1
3 By Senators Singleton, Smitherman, Hatcher, Coleman-Madison,
4 Beasley and Figures
5 RFD: Governmental Affairs
6 First Read: 01-APR-21
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1 212626-1:n:04/01/2021:ANS/cr LSA2021-1041
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8 SYNOPSIS: Under existing law, voters in Alabama may
9 vote only on election day.
10 This bill would require each county to
11 provide at least one early voting center to be open
12 for a period of 14 days during the week immediately
13 preceding election day, which allows registered
14 voters to vote prior to the official election day.
15 This bill would prescribe the hours of
16 operation for each early voting center.
17 This bill would clarify that this act does
18 not impair or affect the powers and duties of
19 boards of registrars, judges of probate, and other
20 election officials.
21 This bill would also require the Secretary
22 of State to adopt rules.
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24 A BILL
25 TO BE ENTITLED
26 AN ACT
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1 Relating to elections; to require each county to
2 provide at least one early voting center to be open for a
3 period of 14 days during the week immediately preceding
4 election day, which allows registered voters to vote prior to
5 the official election day; to prescribe the hours of operation
6 for each early voting center; and to clarify that this act
7 does not impair or affect the powers and duties of boards of
8 registrars, judges of probate, and other election officials.
9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
10 Section 1. (a) As used in this section, early voting
11 center means a location where registered voters may vote
12 during a period of 14 days immediately preceding election day.
13 (b) The governing body of each county shall
14 designate and provide at least one early voting center. If a
15 governing body designates more than one, it shall have the
16 sole authority to configure boundaries for each early voting
17 center in the county. The governing body shall determine the
18 days an early voting center will be open for early voting;
19 provided, however, an early voting center must be open not
20 less than four days nor more than six days during the one-week
21 period immediately preceding election day. Hours of operation
22 for each early voting center shall be as follows:
23 (1) On weekdays and Saturdays, early voting centers
24 shall be open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
25 (2) On Sundays, early voting centers shall be open
26 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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1 (c) Any registered voter may vote in the appropriate
2 early voting center located in his or her county.
3 (d) Nothing in this section shall impair or affect
4 the powers and duties of boards of registrars, judges of
5 probate, and other election officials under Title 17, Code of
6 Alabama 1975, nor shall it affect the procedures and
7 requirements for election day voting.
8 (e) The Secretary of State shall adopt rules for the
9 implementation and administration of this section.
10 Section 2. This act shall become effective on the
11 first day of the third month following its passage and
12 approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
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