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HB 31

Voting, absentee voting, disabled, blind, or voters unable to read may designate individual to deliver voter's absentee ballot application and absentee ballot to absentee election manager

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Adline Clarke

HB 31 enables Alabama disabled or illiterate voters to designate proxies to deliver absentee ballot applications and completed ballots to election officials.

Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Constitution, Campaigns and Elections
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 31

Legislative bill overview

HB 31 allows Alabama voters with disabilities, blindness, or illiteracy to designate another individual to deliver their absentee ballot application and completed absentee ballot to election officials on their behalf. This expands voting accessibility for voters who face barriers to independent mail or in-person ballot submission.

Why is this important

Approximately 61 million Americans live with disabilities, and voting access remains a significant barrier for many. This bill directly addresses a practical obstacle for disabled and visually impaired voters who may struggle with physical mail delivery or lack transportation. However, absentee voting procedures are often tightly regulated to prevent fraud and ensure ballot secrecy, making this change noteworthy from a policy design perspective.

Potential points of contention

  • Ballot secrecy and coercion concerns: Allowing designated agents to handle ballots creates potential opportunities for family members, caregivers, or others to influence or pressure voters' choices, versus voting independently in a poll location with privacy protections.
  • Fraud prevention vs. accessibility balance: Election officials may worry about vote harvesting schemes, duplicate submissions, or ballot tampering when ballots pass through third-party hands rather than direct official channels.
  • Definition and oversight gaps: The bill may lack specifics on agent eligibility requirements, oath requirements, documentation procedures, or penalties for misuse—critical details that determine whether safeguards adequately protect both accessibility and election integrity.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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