After many concerns over election truth in the last two elections, Alabama is trying to let every voter know that their vote does count and multiple ballots by a single person will not be tolerated. Republican Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation in March to prohibit the trafficking of absentee ballot applications in Alabama elections. This new law defines ballot harvesting and states the punishment for violating it.
Definition Of Ballot harvesting
Ballot harvesting is used when “a third party, such as volunteers or paid workers, go to residences, nursing homes, and other locations to pick up completed ballots and drop them off at election offices or another designated drop-off location [1].” The strategy is often used by a single party to gather votes for one party over another.
According to Ballotpedia, Alabama is the only state in which the law explicitly requires only the voter and no one else to return his or her mail-in ballot. The law also specifies that absentee ballots may only be submitted by the voter in person, by U.S. mail, or via commercial carrier.
Violations
This new law makes it a Class C felony to violate it. Individuals or parties found guilty of collecting, prefilling, or distributing the ballots will be charged with a Class B felony.
However, absentee voters who are blind, have a disability, or can’t read or write and require “assistance to vote” are permitted to receive help from an “individual of the voter’s choice.” Nonetheless, this individual may not be the “voter’s employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter’s union.”
This ballot harvesting halting law took effect immediately upon Governor Ivey signing it into law.
Notes:
- ^ {Alabama Gov. Signs Law To Prohibit Ballot Application Trafficking} (go back ↩)
