HB373 Summary

• Amends Alabama Code sections 17-11-3 and 17-11-7 to authorize the Secretary of State to promulgate emergency rules allowing qualified voters to vote absentee when responding to a declared state of emergency.

• Establishes that a state of emergency declared by Alabama, another state, or the federal government that makes compliance with absentee voting procedures impossible or unreasonable triggers the Secretary of State's authority to create emergency voting rules.

• Requires the State of Alabama to pay all expenses and costs incurred by the state or counties in implementing emergency absentee voting rules from available state and federal election funds.

• Adds a new checkbox option to absentee ballot affidavits allowing voters to indicate they will be out of county on election day responding to a declared state of emergency.

• Became effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval by the Governor.