Under legislation passed by the Alabama State Senate on Tuesday, third parties such as political operatives and campaign workers who collect and submit absentee or mail-in ballots in exchange for payment, would be subject to prosecution.
The practice of “ballot harvesting” was Alabama Senate Republicans’ first target of the 2024 state legislative session. SB1, brought by State Sen. Garlan Gudger, backed by Governor Kay Ivey and Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, intends to eliminate “bad actors” from the state’s election process.
“We are protecting Alabama voters from bad actors with rules that make it easy to vote and hard to cheat,” State Sen. Gudger (R-Cullman) said after passage.
“Fraudsters have used ballot harvesting to prey on the integrity of our elections and manipulate voters. When the integrity of the process is in question, so is the legitimacy of the outcome — in Alabama, our elections will be transparent, trackable, and publicly verifiable.”
After several hours of opposition from Democrats on Tuesday, the measure passed 27-8. As the bill goes to the House, successful passage from the Senate marks a victory for Republicans who first attempted to outlaw ballot harvesting in 2023. State Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville), who also introduced legislation in 2023, is leading the House effort to get the bill to Governor Ivey’s desk.
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“As a freshman member of the Alabama House, the first bill I passed was an election integrity measure, so I understand the importance of legislation combatting ballot harvesting being approved by the Alabama Senate,” Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth said.
“Alabama has a long history of voter fraud, and the vast majority of indictments and convictions have involved absentee balloting. Allowing partisan groups and individuals to collect, handle, and potentially tamper with countless numbers of absentee ballots breeds fraud and invites abuse.”
“With passage of this bill, Alabamians can rest assured that an absentee ballot honestly cast will be an absentee ballot honestly counted,” Ainsworth said.
Under the law, it would become a Class C felony for any individual to knowingly receive payment or gifts for engaging in activities related to distributing or handling a voter’s absentee ballot application. The bill also makes accommodations for U.S. citizens, military personnel, and their families voting absentee overseas, as well as for voters who require assistance due to disabilities or literacy challenges.
“Even while we may vote differently, we all agree in protecting the integrity of our elections in Alabama,” Governor Ivey said.
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“That is why I am proud to support legislation that prohibits ballot harvesting in our state. We would put a stop to any manipulation of our elections by closing loopholes that allow unaccountable, paid political operatives to pressure folks through the absentee voting process. This year, we have a new bill to outlaw ballot harvesting that also protects folks who truly need assistance in having their voices be heard,” Ivey said.
Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed said he’s proud the bill made it over the finish line in the Alabama Legislature’s higher chamber supporting all lawmakers’ goal to safeguard the integrity of the election process.
“The security of our elections is foundational to the integrity of our democracy. We have strong election laws in Alabama, and we want to make sure that absentee ballots are handled and cast in appropriate ways,” Sen. Reed (R-Jasper) said after passage.
“We want to make sure that legitimate votes are protected and that those who would try to cheat our system cannot. I am proud of the efforts made by Senate Republicans today to make sure that your vote counts and will not be lessened by fraudulent ballot harvesting attempts.”
Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270
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