Montgomery, AL –Over the past decade, there were several convictions of absentee ballot fraud throughout all of Alabama. In my position as a Probate Judge an elected legislator, and now Secretary of State I am dedicated to stopping election fraud within our state. The bill, HB209 that is sponsored by Rep. Jamie Kiel, is a major step in safeguarding the rights to Alabama voters to vote for themselves without being influenced by anyone else.
It is currently legal for organizations operating as non-profits, to offer monetary compensation to facilitate absentee ballots for Alabama citizens who are registered to vote. The bill would stop the practice.
It is now legal for outside of state institutions to send absentee ballots pre-filled to uninformed voters across the state, many of who have relocated or are not planning to vote absentee. The bill HB209 would ban this practice.
The bill would make it illegal to make payments or pay a third-party to collect absentee ballots as well as absentee votes from Alabama voters. In addition, it would end the possibility for organizations to plant the seeds of chaos and confusion by distributing absentee forms that have been filled out prior to being sent to the state. The elections we have are the core of our constitution and therefore, no one should be compensated for the application to vote absentee or ballot. Ballot harvesting is not described as a job.
Rep. Kiel shepherded HB209 through the Alabama House of Representatives and through the Senate committee. Senate member Garlan Gudger will bring the bill to the whole State Senate and on to Governor Ivey’s office for her signature. I am applauding these two lawmakers for their work to protect Alabama’s elections, and to ensure that every Alabama voters’ right to vote a ballots without interference. This is at the basis of this great nation.
