Several Democrats in the Alabama House of Representatives dropped multiple bills after last week's general election to push for Election Day reform in the 2025 legislative session.
During and after last week's presidential elections, left-leaning commentators expressed a multitude of complaints over the state's election process. Several left-wing journalists and others made much ado about the long lines and wait times at polling locations, mainly using the observation to push for early voting in the state.
Others stated that most employed people cannot afford to take multiple hours off work to wait in line at the polls. Usually, complaints were delivered with subtle hints that the state's election laws intentionally made voting more difficult.
Similarly, Democratic lawmakers and commentators in Alabama have long criticized the state's laws regarding convicted criminals' right to vote, again claiming that the law was used to suppress the votes of Alabamians.
Two days after the polls closed, three Democratic lawmakers filed bills in the House to deal with the issues of early voting and allowing convicted felons to regain the right to vote under certain circumstances.
Convicted felons and absentee voting:
House Bill 60 (HB60) by State Rep. Adline Clarke (D-Mobile) would automatically restore voting rights for convicted felons in certain circumstances. It also includes several provisions that eliminate the qualifications that allow for absentee voting.
HB60 would require that an individual who has lost their right to vote for a state, federal, or foreign court felony conviction, except for convictions of treason or impeachment, would automatically have their voting rights restored if they are released, pardoned, or meet all requirements for probation or parole.
Any individual who has met all probation or parole conditions except for paying court costs, fines, restitution, or fees would qualify as meeting the requirements for voting rights restoration.
The second part of HB 60 would remove requirements placed on absentee voting, including the controversial ones created by the Alabama Legislature earlier this year.
The legislation made it a Class B felony to knowingly pay or provide a gift to a third party to distribute, order, request, collect, prefill, complete, obtain or deliver a voter's absentee ballot application.
Parts of that law are currently being challenged in federal court after several left-wing groups sued the state, claiming it violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
SEE: Appeals court keeps partial block on new ballot harvesting law in place as Election Day nears
Early voting:
Alabama is one of three states that does not allow for early voting, requiring voters to cast their ballot on election day. Despite outcry from advocates, Secretary of State Wes Allen has staunchly opposed early voting, citing concerns about election integrity as his reason.
House Bill 59 (HB59) by State Rep. Thomas Jackson (D-Birmingham) would require each county to operate at least one early voting center to open during the week immediately preceding election day.
State voting holiday:
House Bill 64 (HB64) by State Rep. Ontario Tillman (D-Birmingham) would declare Election Day a state holiday. While a state holiday does not require all employers to recognize it as a day off, all state offices would be required to close under the bill's provisions.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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