SB306 Summary

• Amends Sections 17-11-3 and 17-11-7 of the Alabama Code to authorize the Secretary of State to promulgate emergency rules allowing qualified voters who respond to declared state emergencies to vote by absentee ballot.

• Permits the Secretary of State to create emergency absentee voting procedures when a state of emergency (declared by Alabama, another state, or the federal government) makes substantial compliance with existing absentee voting requirements impossible or unreasonable for a group of qualified voters.

• Adds a new absentee voting eligibility option allowing voters to check that they "will be out of the county on election day responding to a state of emergency as declared by this state or any other state, or by the federal government."

• Updates the absentee ballot affidavit form to include the new emergency response eligibility category among the reasons voters may request an absentee ballot.

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