Title 17 — Title 17

(a) Each elector shall provide valid photo identification to an appropriate election official prior to voting. A voter required to show valid photo identification when voting in person shall present to the appropriate election official one of the following forms of valid photo id…

The judge of probate shall cause to be preserved all certificates and petitions of nomination filed in his or her office under the provisions of this chapter for six months after the election for which such nominations are made. History: (Code 1896, §1610; Code 1907, §392; Code 1…

The judge of probate must give notice at least 14 days before each election by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, if any is published therein and, if not, by writings posted at the courthouse door and at three other public places in the county, of th…

Except as electors are admitted to vote and persons to assist them as herein provided, and except for the judge of probate, the sheriff, or his or her deputy, the precinct election officials, and watchers, no person shall be permitted within 30 feet of the door of the building of…

(a) At any polling place in any state, county, or municipal election, an individual may not do either of the following: (1) Take a photograph of a ballot, other than the individual’s own ballot. (2) Reveal another voter’s ballot in a manner that would disclose its contents to any…

Repealed by Act 2019-507, § 2, effective August 1, 2019. History: (Acts 1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 96-885, p. 1699, §9; Act 2003-313, p. 733, §2; Act 2006-354, p. 937, §1; §17-10-23; amended and renumbered by Act 2006- 570, p. 1331, §48; Act 2014-6, p. 21, §1.)

Regular Session, Effective July 1, 2022. This Is Not in the Current Code Supplement. (a) For the purposes of this section, “election-related expenses” means any of the following: (1) Payments, salaries, or bonuses for election officials, boards of registrars, and poll workers. (2…

Every polling place shall open for voting at 7:00 A.M. and shall close at 7:00 P.M. All polling places in areas operating on eastern time shall open and close under this section pursuant to eastern time except the county commissions in Chambers County and Lee County may by resolu…

The precinct election officials appointed shall meet at the place of holding elections in the several voting places for which they have been appointed not later than 30 minutes before the scheduled opening of the polls and shall open the several polling places at the time designa…

After the polls have opened, no adjournment or recess shall be taken until the certificate of the result of the election is signed. History: (Code 1907, §360; Code 1923, §450; Code 1940, T. 17, §133; §17-7-7; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §44.)

The inspectors, before they commence receiving ballots, must cause it to be proclaimed at the place of voting that the election is opened. History: (Code 1876, §272; Code 1886, §367; Code 1896, §1619; Code 1907, §397; Code 1923, §487; Code 1940, T. 17, §173; §17-7-11; amended and…

(a) Each person who registers to vote by mail shall provide identification prior to the first time they vote in an election containing a federal office on the ballot and as otherwise required by Section 17-9-30. (b) Voters who are voting by absentee ballot shall submit with the a…

(a) A voter shall be required to cast a provisional ballot when: (1) The name of the individual does not appear on the official list of eligible voters for the precinct or polling place in which the individual seeks to vote, and the individual’s registration cannot be verified wh…

Official List. It shall be unlawful for any elector to cast his or her ballot during any general election, primary election, municipal election or special election in any precinct, any district, any ward, or any other subdivision where his or her name does not duly appear upon th…

As used in this chapter, “circuit clerk” includes any successor in function to the circuit clerk. History: (Acts 1975, No. 1147, p. 2251, §16; §17-10-1; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §52.)

Counting of Ballots. (a) Upon receipt of the absentee ballot, the absentee election manager shall record its receipt on the absentee list as provided in Section 17-11-5 and shall safely keep the ballot without breaking the seal of the affidavit envelope. (b)(1) The absentee elect…

(a) For every primary, general, special, or municipal election, there shall be appointed one inspector and at least three clerks, named and notified as are other election officials under the general laws of the state, who shall meet, at the regular time of closing of the election…

Not less than 55 days prior to the holding of any election, except a municipal election, to which this article pertains, or in the case of a runoff primary election, not more than 14 days after the first primary election, the officer charged with the printing and distribution of …

Manager. When the circuit clerk is a candidate for any office and has opposition, he or she shall be disqualified from performing any of the duties imposed by this chapter with reference to the handling of absentee ballots. At least 55 days prior to the election, the circuit cler…

The county commission shall determine the amount of compensation to be paid to the absentee election manager or other absentee election manager for the performance of his or her duties with respect to absentee ballots for which his or her services are required during the 55-day p…

from Primary or General Election. In any municipal election that is held at a time different from a primary or general election, the duties with reference to the handling of absentee ballots which are required of the circuit clerk shall be performed by the town clerk, city clerk,…

All necessary and proper expenses and costs incurred in the carrying out of the provisions of this chapter for which no special provision is made in this chapter shall be paid for in the same manner as are necessary costs and expenses incurred in the several classes of elections …

Absentee Ballots. Repealed by Act 2006-581, p. 496, §2, effective January 1, 2007. History: (Acts 1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 96-885, p. 1699, §8; §17-10-22; Act 2006- 570, §52.)

(a) No absentee ballot shall be opened or counted if received by the absentee election manager by mail, unless received by mail no later than noon on the day of election, or, if received by the absentee election manager by hand delivery, unless so delivered by the voter or medica…

Materials; Return of Unused Election Materials. Each person, firm, or entity supplying to any county or municipality any absentee affidavit envelopes, absentee ballots, or other absentee election materials in connection with any primary, general, special, or municipal election sh…

In each county there shall be an “absentee election manager,” who shall fulfill the duties assigned by this article. The circuit clerk of the county shall, at his or her option, be the absentee election manager. If the circuit clerk of the county declines the duties of absentee e…

Official List. (a) Any qualified elector of this state may apply for and vote an absentee ballot by mail, by hand delivery, or by commercial carrier, as determined by rule by the Secretary of State, as provided in Sections 17-11-5 and 17-11-9, in any primary, general, special, or…

Polls. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 17-11-3, 17-11-4, and 17-11-5, a qualified voter who has a permanent disability preventing his or her attendance at the polls may vote by absentee ballot in accordance with this section. (b) The Secretary of State shall adopt rules that provide…

(a) The application required in Section 17-11-3 shall be in a form prescribed and designed by the Secretary of State and shall be used throughout the state. The application form shall contain and require all of the following: (1) That the applicant submit sufficient information t…

For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) COMMITTEE. The Alabama Electronic Overseas Voting Advisory Committee. (2) OVERSEAS VOTER. Includes all of the following: a. A member of the uniformed services while in the active service,…

(a) The Alabama Electronic Overseas Voting Advisory Committee is created to determine whether secure electronic means may be established for conducting absentee voting for overseas voters and to advise and assist the office of the Secretary of State in the establishment, testing,…

(a) If the committee determines a secure electronic means may be established for conducting overseas absentee voting, the Secretary of State shall promulgate rules proposed by the committee to provide that option to eligible overseas voters. The Secretary of State may veto any ru…

(a) In determining the requirements for a request for an overseas absentee ballot, the committee and the Secretary of State shall consider including the following information: (1) The name of the voter requesting the ballot. (2) The legal Alabama residence of the voter. (3) The d…

A person who votes by absentee ballot pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff, may use a federal write-in absentee ballot as provided in 42 U.S.C. 1973ff-2 for casting his or her vote in any primary, primary runoff, general, or specia…

In determining the requirements for receipt of a request for an overseas absentee ballot, the committee and the Secretary of State shall consider verification by the absentee election manager of the information provided, a determination that the overseas voter is qualified and re…

The committee and the Secretary of State shall determine the procedures whereby an overseas voter may return a voted ballot. History: (Act 2011-619, p. 1417, §6.)

In determining the requirements for an overseas voter certificate, the committee and the Secretary of State shall consider including information including the following: “OVERSEAS VOTER CERTIFICATE “I, ______________ (print name), swear or affirm, under penalty of perjury, that: …

The committee and the Secretary of State may draft instructions to be included when an absentee ballot is sent to an overseas voter, including, but not limited to, the following instructions: ”(1) To ensure that your absentee ballot is counted, it should be completed and returned…

The committee and the Secretary of State shall determine the procedures to be followed for the processing of voted absentee ballots received from eligible overseas voters. History: (Act 2011-619, p. 1417, §9.)

(a) The Secretary of State is granted authority to adopt requirements related to witnessing or notarization of absentee ballots, voter identification, candidate qualifying, and ballot access procedures, ballot printing, and the application process for absentee balloting in electi…

(a) Upon receipt of an application for an absentee ballot as provided in Section 17- 11-3, if the applicant’s name appears on the list of qualified voters produced from the state voter registration list in the election to be held, or if the applicant qualifies for a provisional a…

(a) If a national or local emergency or other situation arises that makes substantial compliance with this article impossible or unreasonable, such as a natural disaster or an armed conflict involving the Armed Forces of the United States, or mobilization of those forces includin…

Notwithstanding any other laws to the contrary, all expenses and costs incurred by the state or any county commission in carrying out the responsibilities and duties required in this article shall be paid by the State of Alabama. All costs associated with this article shall be dr…

The official ballots for any election to which this act pertains shall be in the same form as the official regular ballots for the election, except that they shall have printed thereon the words, “Official Absentee Ballot.” History: (Acts 1975, No. 1147, p. 2251, §4; Acts 1980, N…

Municipal Elections. (a) Each absentee ballot shall be accompanied by an envelope upon which shall be printed an affidavit. (b) With respect to an absentee ballot cast pursuant to Section 17-11-3, the affidavit shall read as follows: “State of Alabama County of ___________ I, the…

The form of the affidavit which shall be printed on the envelope used in primary elections shall be the same as that used in general, special, and municipal elections; except, that the following sentence shall be added and inserted therein immediately above the signature of the v…

Manager. Each prospective absentee voter who meets the requirements of this article shall be furnished with the absentee ballot herein provided for, together with two envelopes for returning his or her marked ballot and instructions for completing and returning the absentee ballo…

When the time arrives for closing the polls, all qualified voters, who are then waiting within the voting room to vote, shall be permitted by the election officers to do so. After closing the polls and sealing the required records, the precinct election officials shall follow the…

Immediately after the election the inspectors shall post in front of the polling place a copy of their certificate of the result of the election. History: (Code 1907, §355; Code 1923, §445; Code 1940, T. 17, §128; §17-13-8; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §56.)

One copy of the certificate of the result of the election shall be signed by the inspector and enclosed in an envelope, which shall then be securely sealed, and the inspector shall write his or her name across every fold at which the envelope, if unfastened, could be opened. The …