The Senate State Government Affairs Committee ultimately gave a 7-3 favorable report to the bill that would create criminal penalties for assisting voters in filling out absentee ballots.

But before the committee could vote on the bill, it had to hear for more than an hour from dozens of people, most of whom opposed it.

Many of them had been there when the bill was introduced before the last session of Congress.

“While this bill purports to protect election integrity, it actually systematically dismantles the very mechanisms that ensure that all eligible citizens, regardless of their circumstances, can participate in our democracy.” said Torrie Williams of Greater Birmingham Ministries. “This bill not only erects barriers, it erases the bridges between disenfranchised people and the right to vote.”

Williams highlighted GBM's commitment to incarcerated people who have the right to vote absentee.

“SB1's draconian measures make absentee voting a challenge for these populations, who already face significant challenges within the prison system, including under-resourced, understaffed, and mail-processing inefficiencies. ”

Barbara Manuel, affiliate president of the Alabama Federation of the Blind, said the bill's changes are aimed at addressing concerns that voters with disabilities will be denied assistance. I have come back to express my opposition.

“These provisions are not clearly stated. How are these provisions applied?” Manuel said.

Betty Mack Shane of the League of Women Voters of Alabama disputed Gudger's claims that she had facts to support rampant vote-harvesting in the state.

“I see SB1 as more of a scare tactic,” she said. “The possibility of collecting ballots does not exist in the 21st century. There is no documentation to support that fact… SB1 is an absurd intimidation tactic to prevent absentee voting.”

While a number of other speakers took to the stage to express their concerns about the bill, Mr. Gudger told the committee that although the speakers did not agree, 95 %” will be addressed through amendments to the bill, he said.

State Sen. Merica Coleman (D-Birmingham) asked that the vote be held off for another week to give committee members time to understand the bill's new form, but the committee refused and immediately A vote was taken and the bill passed 7-3.