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Bill to make ballot harvesting illegal in Alabama advances senate committee



On Wednesday, the Alabama Government Affairs Committee advanced a bill that would make it illegal to accept payments to collect absentee ballots in Alabama.

This has been identified as a top priority for Governor Kay Ivey and Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen. Senate Bill 1 is his first pre-filed bill in 2024 and is sponsored by state Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman). On Wednesday, he introduced an alternative version of after receiving feedback from the public.

The bill specifically prohibits individuals from ordering, requesting, collecting, prefilling, obtaining, or delivering absentee ballots, and from accepting or offering payment in the process.

“I think this bill is what's best for the people of Alabama, and when I say the people of Alabama, I mean all the people of Alabama,” said Sen. Gudger.

“We believe this bill will help ensure that voting is safe and honest, and defeat the last resort of campaign bad actors to steal our elections.This bill is a Republican bill. This bill should not be a Democratic bill and should not be a stand-alone bill. This bill should be a bill for every Alabamian to secure elections. is.”

“A democratic republic cannot survive if election laws make it easy for voters to commit fraud,” Gudger said. “That’s what’s happening right now in our state through vote harvesting.”

RELATED: Allen: Harvest crops, not ballots in Alabama

Alabama House Democrats announced their opposition to the bill at a press conference earlier in the day. The Senate committee passed the bill with supplements after a public hearing.

“SB1 would make it illegal for ballot collectors to pre-fill and/or collect absentee ballot applications or accept payments from third-party agencies to pre-fill and/or collect absentee ballot applications. “This practice manipulates the absentee election process, threatens election security in Alabama, and has no place in Alabama,” Secretary Wes Allen told the committee. Said after passing.

“Safe, secure, and transparent elections are the foundation of our constitutional republic. As Secretary of State, ensuring free and fair elections is my top priority. Alabama's votes should not be sold. That’s why I’m advocating for the passage of SB1.”

Becky Garritson is the executive director of the Alabama Eagle Forum. She spoke in favor of passing SB1.

“Eagle Forum is an organization that jeopardizes free and fair elections, violates voting secrecy, and enables vote collectors to exploit biased third-party organizations and vulnerable voters.” , is opposed to vote harvesting. [political opinions or by people they don’t really know,” Gerritson said. “Prohibiting ballot harvesting eliminates risks and hazards that could cost you your vote and provides confidence that it will be counted as it should and safeguards the sanctity of the voting process.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed has been a vocal proponent of getting the measure passed and on the books throughout the process.

“No greater priority exists than ensuring integrity in our elections,” Reed (R-Jasper) said.

“We must ensure absentee ballots are handled and cast in proper ways. Voting is a right that is foundational to our democracy, and we need to make certain that legitimate votes are not being diluted by fraudulent votes,” said Senator Reed. “The main goal of these efforts will be to make sure that your vote counts and that those who try to cheat our system are held accountable.”

“When individuals engage in deceptive practices during elections, it undermines the very essence of democracy, discouraging legitimate voters,” Sen. Gudger said. “The Ballot Harvesting Bill ensures the people of Alabama are the ones managing our elections without interference from bad actors.”

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