Voting, absentee voting; designee to deliver voter's absentee ballot application and absentee ballot to absentee election manager for disabled voter, authorized
Summary
HB77 would amend Alabama’s absentee voting laws to allow a voter with a disability to designate another individual to deliver the voter’s absentee ballot application to the absentee election manager, and to deliver the completed absentee ballot as well. Under current law, the application and ballot generally must be delivered by the voter personally, with limited exceptions. The bill also defines “disability” for these purposes as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
In addition to expanding who may physically deliver absentee materials for disabled voters, the bill makes related technical and conforming changes to the absentee voting statutes. It updates Section 17-11-4 to add the designee-delivery option for applications and Section 17-11-9 to allow a disabled voter’s designee to return the completed ballot. The bill also revises envelope and ballot-processing language, including the number and description of envelopes used for absentee ballots and the handling of identification and provisional-ballot procedures.
Impact
HB77 would change Sections 17-11-4 and 17-11-9 of the Code of Alabama 1975 by creating a new delivery option for disabled absentee voters and by conforming ballot-return procedures to that option. It would not broadly alter eligibility to vote absentee, but it would expand access for voters with disabilities by allowing a designated person to act as a courier for both the application and the ballot. The bill also preserves existing restrictions on third-party payment or gifts for absentee ballot-related activities and keeps current identification and reidentification requirements in place.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally favorable treatment of the bill, or at least no recorded opposition in the materials provided. The bill is framed as an access-oriented measure for disabled voters, and its caption and synopsis emphasize assistance and accommodation rather than major policy change. There are no committee transcripts or recorded votes included here, so there is no direct evidence of debate, amendment, or partisan division in the provided record.
Contention
The main policy issue raised by the text is the balance between improving access for disabled voters and maintaining controls on absentee ballot handling. The bill permits a disabled voter’s designee to deliver applications and ballots, which could prompt concerns about chain-of-custody, ballot security, or undue influence, although those concerns are not documented in the provided transcripts. The bill also retains felony penalties for paid third-party absentee ballot collection or delivery, indicating continued legislative concern about commercial or organized ballot harvesting. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the available context.