Sponsor(s): Representatives Nordgren, Hill, Collins and McClurkin

Summary/Synopsis: HB218 provides that the computerized voter lists that become public record must not show the mailing or residential address for victims of domestic violence who request their addresses be redacted. The official list would still contain their information.

League Action and Justification: LWVAL supports HB218.

Bill Progress in the Legislature:
02/07/2013: First Reading and referred to the
02/21/2013: Read for the 2nd time and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd reading and Favorable from CC&E.

04/25/2013: 3rd Reading Passed; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted (95-0-0).

05/02/2013: Read for the first time in the Senate and referred to the Smitherman motion to rerefer; Bussman Motion to Table Smitherman motion to rerefer adopted

05/09/2013: Read second time in second house (Senate) and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd read and Favorable from CCFE&E.

Sponsor(s): Senators Figures, Coleman, Sanders, Singleton, Smitherman, Irons, Dunn, Ross, Keahey, Beasley, Bedford, Ward, Bussman, Dial, and Marsh

Summary/Synopsis: Under existing law, a qualified elector can only vote by absentee ballot if the elector meets certain criteria indicating that the elector is unavailable to vote in person on Election Day. This bill would allow any qualified elector to vote by absentee ballot in an election.

League Action and Justification: LWVAL supports SB212.
The bill would allow any registered voter to qualify for absentee voting if the request is made at least 5 days before the election. A request for an absentee ballot within the 5-day period before Election Day, the voter must still have a medical or business emergency.

This process would simplify voting and potentially shorten the wait at polling places on Election Day. The caveat is that the only real demonstrated election fraud occurs in relation to absentee balloting.

Bill Progress in Legislature:
02/14/2013 – First Reading and referred to the
04/04/2013: 2nd Reading and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd reading and Favorable for CCFE&E.

05/07/13: Indefinitely postponed in house of origin

SB155
Sponsor(s): Senator Taylor

HB162
Sponsor(s): Representatives Long, Gaston, Clouse, W. Johnson and Barton

Summary/Synopsis: SB155 and HB162 are almost identical. Both would enlarge the window before elections during which no voter can be registered from 10 to 17 days. While the eligible voter list must now be compiled after registration closes, SB155 clarifies that it must be compiled during this 17-day window.

League Action and Justification: LWVAL opposes SB155 and HB162.
The proposed bills add constraints to the voting process. However, the League supports the need for a clearly stated requirement that the statewide list of registered voters be compiled before elections.

Bill Progress in the Legislature:

SB155:
02/07/2013 - First Reading and referred to the
02/14/2013 - 2nd Reading and place on the Calendar with 1 CCFE&E Substitute (148737-2); pending 3rd Reading and Favorable from CCFE&E.

05/07/13 - Indefinitely postponed in house of origin.

HB162:
02/06/2013 - First Reading and referred to the
02/21/2013: 2nd Reading and placed on the Calendar; pending 2rd Reading and Favorable from CC&E.

04/30/2013: 3rd Reading Passed; Nordgren Amendment (152501-1) Offered; Motion to Adopt adopted (82-16-0); J. Hubbard Amendment [not available on ALISON) Offered; Motion to Table adopted; Hall intended to vote “Nay”; Hammon motion to Previous Questions adopted; Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted (67-34-0); Engrossed.

NOTE: Nordgren Amendment requires publication of voting list at least 20 days before a primary, special, or general election.

05/02/2013: Read for the first time in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics and Elections (CCFE&E); Smitherman motion to rerefer; Bussman motion to Table Smitherman motion to rerefer adopted (14-9-0)

05/09/2013: Read second time in second house (Senate) and placed on the calendar; Singleton motion to recommit; Marsh motion to table Singleton motion to recommit adopted; pending 3rd reading and Favorable from CCFE&E.

NOTE: HB162 in the news: "Changes to voter registration process may be in store", by Beth Clayton, AL Political Reporter, May 15, 2013.

Sponsor(s): Senators Sanford and Beason

Summary/Synopsis: There are three main components to this voter registration related legislation:
(1) Under current law, the list of registered voters, list of those being removed from the voting rolls, and list of election inspectors and clerks must be published in the local newspaper. This bill would remove this requirement. Instead, the lists would be put on the county website. If the county does not have a website, it would be put on the website of the Association of County Commissioners. A notice would be required in the newspaper telling people where to find the list and stating that a printed list could be requested at no cost.
(2) Currently, the probate judge gets 5 cents/name for providing the list of voters to the election inspector. This bill would remove that payment.
(3) Currently, there is compensation provided to the absentee election manager. This bill would remove the compensation if the role is being filled by a public official. Only if someone else needs to be appointed to fill that role is there to be compensation.


League Action and Justification: LWVAL opposes SB125.
SB125’s three main components implement cost-saving measures; however, Item 1 makes the registration process less transparent and disadvantages those voters who because of age, health issues, income, area of residency, and/or other factors are unable to access computers or other electronic means of monitoring website listings.

Bill Progress in Legislature:
02/05/2013 – First Reading and referred to the 02/07/2013 – Referred to the
02/21/2013: 2nd Reading and placed on the calendar with 1 Substitute (149025-3) and 2 F&TGF Amendments (149156-5 and 149117-3); pending 3rd reading and Favorable from F&TGF with 1 Substitute and 2 Amendments.

05/07/13: Indefinitely postponed in house of origin.

Sponsor(s)

HB373: Representatives B. Moore (B), Boothe, Beckman, Warren, McMillan, Vance, Buskey, Davis, Lee, Love, Chesteen, Grimsley, Colston, Melton, Drake, Henry, Gaston and Collins

SB306: Senators Taylor, Bussman, Williams, Fielding, Scofield, Glover, Waggoner, Ward, Smith, Keahey, Bedford, Coleman, Dunn, Irons, Beasley, Pittman, Brewbaker, Orr, Dial and Allen

Summary/Synopsis: This bill would authorize the Secretary of State, by emergency rule, to provide for absentee voting by those qualified electors who have responded to an emergency situation away from their polling places.

League Action and Justification: LWVAL supports HB373 and SB306. This legislation simplifies and expands voting opportunity.

Bill Progress in Legislature:

HB373
02/28/2013: Read for the first time and referred to the
03/20/2013: 2nd Reading and placed on the calendar with 1 Amendment (150748-5 ) by CC&E; pending 3rd reading and Favorable from CC&E with 1 Amendment.

Note: The amendment would make all expenses incurred by the state or any county due to carrying out the responsibilities and duties included in the promulgated rule payable by the State from monies made available for election expenses under state and federal law.

04/11/2013: 3rd Reading Passed; CC&E Amendment (150748-5) Offered; Motion to Adopt adopted (80-0-4)
Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted (85-0-2); Engrossed.

Senate:
Read of the first time and referred to the
04/18/2013: Read for the 2nd time and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd Reading and favorable form CCF#&E.

05/02/2013: 3rd Reading Passed; Motion to Read a 3td Time and Pass adopted (28-0-3); Passed a Second House; Enrolled; Forwarded to Executive Department.

05/07/2013:
House: passed second house; Clerk of the House certification; Assigned Act No. 2013-202; Delivered to the Governor at 12:30 p.m. on May 7, 2013.

SB306
03/12/2013: Read for the first time and referred to the
04/04/2013: 3rd reading and placed on the calendar with 1 Amendment (150778-2) from CCFE&E; pending 3rd reading and Favorable from CCFE&E with 1 Amendment. Note: Same amendment as added to HB373.

05/07/13: Indefinitely postponed in house of origin.

Sponsor(s): Representative Gaston

Summary/Synopsis: Under existing law, absentee ballots can only be submitted by United States mail or in person. This bill would allow absentee voters to submit ballots by commercial carriers as well as United States mail

League Action and Justification: LWVAL supports HB385. This measure simplifies and expands the opportunity to vote.

Bill Progress in Legislature:
03/05/2013: Read for the first time and referred to the
03/20/2013: 2nd Reading and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd reading and Favorable from CC&E.

05/07/13: Indefinitely postponed in house of origin.

Sponsor(s): Representative Scott

Summary/Synopsis: This bill provides that if an elector is purged from the voting rolls, a notice must be sent to the elector at his or her last known address. Currently, only those electors who are purged for reason of a criminal offense receive notice.

League Action and Justification: LWVAL supports HB460. This action promotes transparency and access to voting.

Bill Progress in Legislature:
3/20/2013: Read for the first time and referred to the
04/23/2013: 2nd time and placed on the calendar with 1 amendment (152615-1)

4/25/2013: 3rd Reading passed; CC&E Amendment (152615-1) offered; Motion to Adopt adopted (100-0-0); Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted (100-0-0); Engrossed.

05/07/13: Read for the first time and referred to the ; Reported from CCFE&E as Favorable.