Legislation to safeguard election integrity in Alabama passed the State Senate on Tuesday.
The two bills are sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville).
“This legislation is essential to ensuring that the current process we use to run the safest and most secure elections in the country,” Chambliss said. “By banning any form of connective technology in our vote-counting machines, we are ensuring that our elections remain free of any technological interference.
“By ensuring we always use paper ballots, we help to ensure that we always have a record of the actual votes that were cast. These bills do just that.”
The first bill, if enacted, would mandate that Alabama’s electronic voting system use a paper ballot that has been marked and checked by the voter before it is cast and counted. The bill would amend Section 17-7-23, Code of Alabama 1975.
The second bill would ensure electronic vote-counting systems that can connect to the Internet, cell phone networks, or that possess modern technology are not used in Alabama. The bill would amend Section 17-7-21, Code of Alabama 1975
“I appreciate Senator Chambliss’s hard work in drafting and guiding these bills through the State Senate,” Secretary of State Wes Allen said. “These bills will solidify current election practices as parts of statute.”
The legislation will move to the House for review and a possible vote
Chambliss, the Senate Majority Whip, is currently serving his third term representing District 30 which covers Autauga, Elmore, Chilton, Coosa and Tallapoosa counties.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
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