For decades, non-profit groups in Alabama have helped citizens prepare and turn in their absentee ballots during elections. Although the groups claim to be nonpartisan, many take sides on political issues and voice concerns over policies.
It has been over a year and a half since Conecuh County Sheriff Republican candidate Mike Blackmon filed an election contest following a recount that found Democrat Sheriff Randy Brock won the race by one vote.
The Department of Justice intervened in a lawsuit filed by liberal groups against the state of Alabama’s new ballot harvesting law.
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen said he was “especially proud” of a new ballot harvesting law and four other bills passed by the legislature during the 2024 session.
A coalition of left-wing groups last week filed a motion requesting a federal court block a new anti-ballot harvesting law recently passed by the Alabama Legislature and signed by Gov. Kay Ivey.
The ACLU, NAACP and other groups filed a lawsuit in federal court Thursday against Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Alabama’s 42 District Attorneys and Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen to block the recently enacted Senate Bill 1, which increased penalties for ballot harvesting in Alabama.
Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation banning ballot harvesting into law on Wednesday.
Tuesday was a banner day for conservative priorities at the Alabama State House.
The contentious bill restricting ballot harvesting in Alabama cleared the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday.
Legislation increasing penalties on ballot harvesting in Alabama passed the State Senate on Tuesday by a 27-8 margin along party lines.
Legislation banning ballot harvesting in Alabama will be considered by the State Senate this week.
As the contentious 2024 presidential election looms, Alabama Senate Republicans are hoping to outlaw ballot harvesting in one of the first bills put forward this session.
Republicans in the Alabama Legislature are expected to take up a bill to increase the penalties for ballot harvesting in Alabama early in the 2024 session.
Since 2020, over half of the states have passed legislation that will be in effect for 2024, some strengthening election integrity and some making even further expansions of mail-in voting and ballot harvesting.
Controversial ballot harvesting legislation that caused significant stir in the 2023 regular legislative session has already been pre-filed for the 2024 legislation.
According to former Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, greater community involvement will help keep elections more secure.
Kiel said the legislation would help crack down on ballot harvesting and shore up the most vulnerable aspect of Alabama’s elections.
House Bill 209 (HB209), legislation sponsored by State Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville), which would have cracked down on ballot harvesting, did not get a vote on the State Senate floor last week before the 2023 legislative session ended.
Sine die came and went without House Bill 209 (HB209), legislation that would have cracked down on so-called ballot harvesting, getting a vote on the State Senate floor.
Legislation establishing criminal penalties for certain types of absentee ballot assistance died in the Senate after never making it on the calendar for a vote in the last days of the session.
Legislation establishing criminal penalties for certain types of absentee ballot assistance is still very much alive or dead depending on who you ask with one day remaining in the legislative session.
Amended absentee ballot legislation is still “very much alive,” according to State Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville).
The hotly debated bill designed to crack down on ballot harvesting has passed a Senate committee with amendments after holding a public hearing for critics to voice concerns.
Last week, the House of Representatives passed legislation to crack down on ballot harvesting. House Bill 209, sponsored by State Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville), passed in the lower chamber by a 76-28 vote and now awaits debate in the Alabama Senate.
Controversial legislation designed to crack down on ballot harvesting passed the Alabama House of Representatives after vigorous Democratic protest.