Republican lawmakers in the Alabama Legislature are pushing for election reform, with a focus on strengthening election integrity, while Democratic lawmakers are advocating for increased voter accessibility. House Bill 30, filed by Rep. Debbie Wood, aims to mandate post-election audits in the state to ensure the integrity of the election process. Alabama Republicans have passed laws to address election integrity, including making it a felony to pay for assistance with absentee ballots. Secretary of State Wes Allen has championed efforts to remove non-citizens from voter rolls.
In contrast, Senate Bill 7, the Alabama Voting Rights Act, introduced by Democratic lawmakers, seeks to increase voter accessibility by automatically restoring voting rights for eligible individuals and eliminating qualifications for absentee voting. The bill also includes provisions for assisting individuals with disabilities in mailing their absentee ballots.
While Republican Rep. Bob Fincher prioritizes election integrity, Democratic Rep. Adline Clarke has filed a bill to allow assistance for Alabamians with disabilities in mailing absentee ballots. Clarke’s bill has received support from the Alabama League of Women Voters. Concerns have been raised about the security of existing voting technology in the state, with Wood pointing out potential vulnerabilities in the ballot scanning devices used.
The legislative session will begin in February 2025, with discussions on these election reform bills expected to take place in various committees. The ongoing partisan split in the Alabama Legislature highlights the differing priorities of lawmakers when it comes to election reform.
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