Yellowhammer Times

The Alabama House recently passed legislation prohibiting the state Legislature from changing election procedures within six months of a general election.

House Bill 388 (HB 388) was introduced by Rep. Jim Carns (R-Vestavia Hills) in reaction to Republican concerns around the country regarding the actions of tweaking election systems as the 2020 general election approached, Yellowhammer News reported. Most of the changes were due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carns said the legislation was needed “to make sure we don’t have any slipups or any challenges of elections in the future.”

He added that the bill will make it illegal for a party with a supermajority to make late changes to election laws in order to help its candidates.

The text of HB 388 that would alter Alabama’s law reads: "The implementation date for any bill enacted by the legislature in a calendar year in which a general election is to be held and relating to the conduct of the general election shall be at least six months before the general election."

Pennsylvania was cited as an example of a state that modified its election laws without the state legislature's approval until just days before the 2020 general election, according to Yellowhammer News.

A Michigan judge also overturned the Michigan secretary of state's unilateral order to county election clerks to presume the authenticity of mail-in ballot signatures, ruling it was an electoral procedure adjustment made outside of the legislative process in advance of the 2020 election.

"It was clear from the outset that the secretary of state had violated election law by unilaterally directing local clerks to ignore their statutory obligation to compare absentee ballot signatures," said Ted Goodman, communications director for Michigan GOP.

The Alabama bill must be ratified by voters if the legislation is passed as it is was proposed as a constitutional amendment. HB 388 awaits consideration in the Alabama Senate for further review.