absentee ballots

New absentee voting law carries threat of jail time

From the West Alabama Newsroom– A new absentee voting law is now in effect in Alabama and voters who violate it could end up in jail. Municipal elections around the state are just over a week away and there have been some major changes that absentee voters need to know about. Election officials say a new state law penalizes people…

Alabama Certifies Election Results, Record Absentee Voting

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – Alabama officials certified election results that included a record number of absentee ballots cast during the COVID-19 pandemic. President Donald Trump easily won Alabama capturing 62% of the votes. Republican Tommy Tuberville defeated incumbent Sen. Doug Jones after winning about 60% of the vote. Secretary of State John Merrill said 318,000 absentee ballots were cast this…

Federal Judge Loosens AL Absentee Rules for Vulnerable Voters

A federal judge says older Alabama voters at risk for contracting COVID-19 shouldn’t have to comply with all the state’s requirements for casting absentee ballots in November. U.S. District Judge Abdul K. Kallon ruled Wednesday that being forced to follow some provisions could wrongly endanger their lives. The decision came in a lawsuit filed on behalf of voters with health…

Federal Judge Says Alabama Can’t Forbid Curbside Voting

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – A federal judge says Alabama cannot bar local officials from offering curbside voting during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also loosened restrictions on absentee ballots in three Alabama counties because of the health risk to voters. U.S. District Judge Abdul K. Kallon entered the preliminary injunction Monday evening. Kallon ruled that the potential health risks to older…