Montgomery, AL – Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed Senate Bill 1 into law on Wednesday, a move aimed at bolstering the fairness and integrity of elections within the state. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Garlan Gudger and Rep. Jamie Kiel, garnered support from various quarters and was hailed as a significant step towards safeguarding the electoral process.
In her statement upon signing the bill, Governor Ivey underscored the state’s commitment to upholding free and fair elections. She commended Secretary of State Wes Allen and the Alabama Legislature for prioritizing election security, emphasizing her administration’s zero-tolerance stance towards any form of electoral malpractice.
The legislation, SB1, prohibits ballot harvesting in Alabama, aiming to prevent external manipulation of the absentee voting process. It specifically makes it illegal to pay or be paid by a third-party organization to pre-fill or collect absentee ballot applications. This measure is intended to safeguard the sanctity of each voter’s individual choice and prevent undue influence on the electoral outcome.
Secretary of State Wes Allen echoed Governor Ivey’s sentiments, emphasizing the fundamental importance of free and fair elections in upholding the democratic principles of the state. He praised the passage of SB1 as a decisive message to potential ballot harvesters that Alabama votes are not for sale, affirming the rights of voters to cast their ballots without coercion or external interference.
Secretary Allen, who has long advocated for measures to outlaw ballot harvesting, expressed gratitude towards the sponsors of the legislation, Senator Garlan Gudger and Representative Jamie Kiel, for their efforts in championing electoral integrity. He also thanked Governor Ivey for her decisive action in signing the bill into law, along with Senate Pro-Tem Greg Reed and House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter for their leadership in facilitating its passage through the respective chambers.
