HB45 – Absentee Voting Access for Voters with Disabilities

Background: HB45 updates Alabama’s absentee voting laws to allow a voter with a disability to designate an individual to hand-deliver the voter’s absentee ballot application to the absentee election manager. It defines “disability” as a physical or mental impairment substantially limiting one or more major life activities. It also allows the designee of a disabled voter to hand-deliver (or submit via mail/commercial carrier) the return mail envelope with the absentee ballot.

Our Position:   We support HB45. Voting must be accessible to everyone, including Alabamians with disabilities. This bill defines “disability” as it is defined by federal law and provides a practical accommodation that reduces unnecessary barriers to absentee voting for people with disabilities.