Last week, the House of Representatives passed legislation to crack down on ballot harvesting.
State Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) has indicated that it will not pass the Senate without a fight.
During an appearance on Thursday's broadcast of Alabama Public Television's "Capitol Journal," Singleton dismissed absentee ballot fraud in Alabama, noting the recent charges involving the Perry County Commission that were dismissed.
"Let me stop your question — no, there is not," he said. "You know, there is not a problem. We have not had any problems in our voting systems. We've been having clean votings, even when the Trump administration across the nation was crying about that we was having problems in Alabama and other places. You know, John Merrill ran a good voting system. I understand the system he left in place. If Mr. [Wes] Allen were to look at this system, you know they could run a clean voting system. We have no problems with absentee balloting in this state. The only time we've had someone convicted lately was up in Winston County — it was a white sheriff."
"But at the end of the day, we have not had these kinds of ballot-harvesting problems," Singleton continued. "I know where it comes from. It comes from a case that was filed by Michael Jackson at the end of his time and was mad with the county commission over in Perry County, which got kicked out of court because it had no merits, OK. So, we know where it comes from."
"The Secretary of State decides to jump on this," he added. "It is too early in the game. They just got there. They're new. And so, I think we should really not be looking at this bill at this point where there is not a problem in the state."
Jeff Poor is the executive editor of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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