SB55 Summary

• Establishes the Alabama Electronic Overseas Voting Advisory Committee to determine whether secure electronic means can be safely used for overseas absentee voting and advise the Secretary of State on implementation.

• Defines overseas voters as uniformed services members, Merchant Marine members, or U.S. citizens who are permanent Alabama residents temporarily residing outside the United States and are registered to vote.

• Requires the committee and Secretary of State to establish procedures for ballot requests, receipt, return methods, voter certificates, voting instructions, and ballot processing for overseas absentee voters.

• Mandates encryption standards, voter identity verification, secure transmission capabilities, and audit procedures for any electronic voting system used for overseas ballots.

• States that all state and county expenses for implementing overseas absentee voting shall be paid by Alabama using Secretary of State funds available under state and federal law.