HB191 Summary

• Amends Section 17-16-2, Code of Alabama 1975, to add advertising, media, telephone, computer, and communications operations expenses to the list of reimbursable election expenses for counties that recognize Mardi Gras as a county holiday.

• Applies retroactively to the February 5, 2008 presidential preference primary election, allowing counties to seek reimbursement for expenses already incurred under Act 2007-461.

• Clarifies that counties authorized to implement additional election provisions (absentee voting and early voting) when the presidential preference primary falls on Mardi Gras may be reimbursed for costs up to $25,000 for communications operations and up to $100,000 for advertising and media expenses per county.

• Addresses the State Comptroller's prior denial of reimbursement to Mobile County for expenses incurred in 2008 that were not explicitly listed in the reimbursable expenses statute.