SB1 – Criminalizing Absentee Ballot Assistance

Background: Senate Bill 1 will make it a felony for absentee ballot applications or ballots to be distributed, ordered, requested, collected, completed, obtained, or delivered by a person other than the absentee voter. Absentee voters would be limited in who they choose to assist them in various aspects of the absentee voting process. Get out the vote (GOTV) volunteer organizations that often do not have direct relationships with voters may be prohibited from providing support to absentee voters. Even if a family member or friend attempts to pay gas money for someone to deliver an absentee ballot, this bill could charge them with a felony for doing so.

Our Position: We oppose SB1. We are committed to mitigating voter suppression by ensuring access to the ballot. This legislation would make it a felony for assistance to be provided in delivering and filling out absentee ballots or applications in most cases. SB1 will not allow voters to have a volunteer from a GOTV organization assist them in completing an absentee ballot application or an absentee ballot. With several organizations providing services to seniors, students, or people who are homebound, this bill prevents their work to ensure and expand access to the ballot. Criminalizing assistance that provides access to the voting process to others limits participation for Alabama’s most vulnerable citizens.