Sponsor(s): Rep. Hurst

Summary/Synopsis: Allows local governments to appoint alternate election officers if the originally appointed officers are unable to serve.
LWVAL Action and Justification: LWVAL supports HB7. This bill improves the election process and is consistent with League position on Election Law Reform which “supports uniform election laws and procedures throughout the state to ensure the integrity of the election system.”

Bill Progress in Legislature: 3/1/2011: 1st Reading; Committee assignment:
3/2/2011 - HB7 was on committee schedule – Room 122, 9:30 am.
3/3/2011- 2nd Reading and placed on calendar, pending 3rd reading and favorable day 3 from CC&E.
4/26/2011 – 3rd Reading passed; Motion to Read a 3rd time and Pass adopted (98-0-2)
4/26/2011 – 1st Reading in the Senate; referred to 5/3/2011: 2nd Reading and placed on Calendar; pending 3rd read and favorable from GA;

Sponsor(s): Sen. Ward

Summary/Synopsis: Elections, independent candidates for statewide office, number of names required to gain ballot access, reduced, Sec. 17-9-3 am'd.

LWVAL Action and Justification: LWVAL supports SB17. This bill opens up elections giving candidates greater access to the ballot.

Bill Progress in Legislature: 3/1/2010: 1st Reading; referred to 3/8/2011: on committee schedule, Room 609A, 11 am.
3/8/11: 2nd read and placed on calendar with 1 substitute (126896-3); pending 3rd read and favorable from CCFE&E with 1 substitute.
6/1/2011: Indefinitely postponed.

Notes: Currently, independent candidates must get names on petitions to equal 3% of the numbers of voters voting in the previous gubernatorial election. This bill would reduce the number to 1.5% of the number of voters voting in the previous gubernatorial election.

Substitute requires parties to file signed petitions by noon on the third Wed. following the 2nd primary date; petition signatures must equal 1 ½% of the vote in the last gubernatorial election in state, district or other political subdivision or 5,000 whichever is lower; candidate number stays at lowered 1 ½%.

Sponsor(s): Rep. Rich

Summary/Synopsis: Elections, photo identification required to register to vote; Public Safety Department required to issue identification cards to persons without photo identification at no cost. The bill limits the types of acceptable ID for voters to use. They must be issued by the federal or state elections. Voters without proper ID can vote only a provisional vote. No longer can two election officials vouch for the voter's identity.
LWVAL Action and Justification: LWVAL opposes HB19. National League positions oppose voter IDs arguing the requirement effectively limits voter access especially for the elderly and minorities.

Bill Progress in Legislature: 3/1/2011: 1st Reading; Committee assignment:
3/2/2011 - HB19 was on committee schedule – Room 122, 9:30 am.
3/3/2011- 2nd reading & placed on calendar with 1 substitute (126440-3) & 1 Amendment to substitute (126667-1); pending 3rd reading on day 3 and favorable from CC&E.
3/22/2011 – J. Hubbard 1st substitute offered. Rich Motion to Table adopted. Holmes motion to Adjourn lost. Motion to Previous Question adopted. Motion to Adopt CC&E Substitute adopted (65-29-0). Motion to Adopt CC&E Substitute (126667-1) adopted (65-29-0). Hubbard (J) intended to vote "Nay". Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted (64-31-0). Co-sponsors added. Engrossed and sent to the Senate.
3/24/2011: Read in the Senate for the 1st time and referred to 3/29/2011: On Senate C&E schedule; Room 727, 11 am.
3/31/2011: 2nd read and placed on calendar; pending 3rd read and favorable from CCFE&E

6/9/2011: 3rd Reading passed
Rules Petition to Cease Debate dopted (22-10-0)
Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted (22-10-0)
Passed 2nd house; enrolled
Signature Requested; Forwarded to Governor at 4:40 p.m., June 9, 2011

Sponsor(s):
SB39 - Senator Dial
SB55 - Senators Dial, Holley, Taylor, Glover, Williams, Bussman, Scofield, Holtzclaw, Brewbaker, Whatley, Allen, McGill, Orr, Reed, Beason, Sanford, Waggoner and Ward

Summary/Synopsis: Elections, overseas absentee voting, Electronic Overseas Voting Advisory Committee, established to advise whether secure electronic means of voting available, duties of absentee election manager, overseas voter certificate required, Secretary of State to implement rules.
LWVAL Action and Justification: LWVAL supports SB39 and SB55. This bill (SB39 and SB55 before amendment same) has the potential to broaden access to voting.

Bill Progress in Legislature:
SB39 - 3/1/2010: 1st Reading and referred to
SB55 - 3/1/2010: 1st Reading and referred to 3/22/2011: 2nd reading and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd read and favorable from CCFE&E.
3/31/2011: Motion to Miscellaneous adopted; Dial motion to Reconsider adopted by voice vote; Dial Amendment (127924-1) offered; motion adopted 31-0-1; 3rd read and passed 31-0-1; Engrossed.
3/31/2011: Read for 1st time in House and referred to 04/14/2011: 2nd Read and placed on the calendar; pending 3rd read and favorable from CC&E
5/31/2011: 3rd Reading; Motion to Read a 3rd time and pass adopted (97-0-0).
6/1/2011: Passed 2nd House; Enrolled; Signature requested; Delivered to Governor at 2:06 p.m

Note: Amendment gives Sec. of State authority to adopt requirements related to witnessing or notarization of absentee ballots, voter ID, candidate qualifying, ballot access procedures, ballot printing and ballot application process of federal, state, county and municipal offices and constitutional amendments and other reference to comply with federal law. It also authorizes the Sec. of State to extend deadline for receiving, processing, and counting absentee ballots if they are transmitted to qualified voters in less that the minimum number of days prior to an election required by federal law and specifies appointment procedures for those who count the absentee ballots.

Sponsors: Senators Allen, Marsh, Beason, Waggoner, Williams, Brewbaker, Glover, Scofield, Bussman, Whatley, Reed, Orr, Sanford, Brooks, Pittman, Ward, Dial, Holtzclaw and Taylor

Summary/Synopsis: Elections, photo identification required to register to vote, Secretary of State required to issue identification cards to persons without photo identification at no cost
Summary/Synopsis: LWVAL opposes SB86. National League positions oppose voter IDs arguing the requirement effectively limits voter access especially for the elderly and minorities.

Bill Progress in the legislature: 3/1/2011: 1st reading and referred to 04/14/2011: 2nd Read and placed on calendar; pending 3rd read and favorable from Judiciary.
6/1/2011: Indefinitely postponed.

Notes: Unlike HB19, this bill would leave the alternative forms of ID and continue to allow 2 election workers to vouch for a voter without ID. It permits the state to spend funds to issue IDs. This is a better alternative than HB19.

Sponsors: Representatives Long, Ball, Rich and K. Johnson

Summary/Synopsis: The bill extends the period before elections during which no one may be registered to vote. It would extend the period from 10 to 14 days. It is effective only in counties of more than 600,000.
League Action and Justification: LWVAL opposes HB474. The LWVAL supports “uniform election laws and procedures throughout the state” including uniform application of election laws. If enacted, the bill would restrict access to the vote, which League also opposes.

Bill Progress in Legislature:
4/7/2011: 1st Reading and referred to 04/14/2011: 2nd Read and placed on calendar; pending 3rd read and favorable from CC&E.
5/24/2011: Motion to Read a 3rd Time and Pass adopted (73-23-0).
5/26/2011: 1st Read in Senate and referred to 5/31/2011: On CCFE&E schedule, 9:30 AM, Room 609.
5/31/2011l: 2nd Reading and placed on calendar; Pending 3rd read and favorable from CCFE&E.

Sponsor: Representative Hill

Summary/Synopsis: This bill would provide for electronic transmission of requests for an overseas or military absentee ballot. The application would be valid for the calendar year.  By the 2012 presidential primary, the secretary of state must develop an electronic ballot transmission system for overseas and military ballots. 
League Action and Justification: LWVAL support HB678. This legislation extends access to voting. LWVAL supports absentee voting and early voting. The LWVAL also supports a simplified application process.

Bill Progress in Legislature:
5/25/2011: 1st Read and referred to