Update: The bill is not moving at the moment. Secretary of State John Merrill has withdrawn his support for no-excuse absentee voting.
.png)
HB 396
No-excuse
Absentee Voting
Slide to see why you should support it
Over 200% more absentee ballots were submitted in 2020 than in 2016, contributing to a record-breaking 62% voter turnout in Alabama. Last November's election showed that Alabamians want more access to absentee voting and proved that our state can manage large amounts of absentee ballots while maintaining election security.
What is HB 396?
Alabama House Bill 396, No-excuse Absentee Voting, would allow registered voters to vote absentee in any election > no excuse needed. It would eliminate the nine elaborate justifications from the absentee ballot application.
It is a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Laura Hall (D) and cosponsored by Secretary of State John Merrill (R) and Rep. Wadsworth (R). Voters would still be required to provide photo identification to apply for an absentee ballot and they still must include a notary signature (or two witness signatures) on the ballot affidavit envelope.
Drop the Excuses
CONVENIENT
SECURE
TRANSPARENT
North Alabama Coalition
for HB 396
I Vote Madison
Vote Huntsville
Why do we support it?
Life is unpredictable, and it shouldn't require a pandemic for voters to benefit from no-excuse absentee voting. Registered Alabama voters should not have to go through unnecessary hurdles in order to plan ahead to secure their vote in an upcoming election. HB 396 will especially benefit the elderly, people with disabilities, and those who have limited transportation, unpredictable work schedules, caretaking responsibilities, or health conditions. Dropping the excuses makes voting more accessible and can lead to increased voter turnout while maintaining Alabama's high standard of election security.
​
