Alabama lawmakers approve absentee ballot, anti-diversity and inclusion bills

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama lawmakers on Tuesday gave final approval to a bill that would outlaw paid assistance with absentee ballot applications and another that would restrict diversity, equity and inclusion programs at universities and state agencies.

Republicans had named the bills as priorities for the legislative session. The Senate, in votes divided along party lines, agreed to changes made by the House of

Representatives. The two bills now go to Gov. Kay Ivey for her signature.

A spokesperson for Ivey did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.

The absentee voting bill would make it a misdemeanor to distribute a pre-filled absentee ballot application to a voter or return another voter’s completed application. It would become a felony to give, or receive, a payment or gift “for distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, completing, prefilling, obtaining, or delivering a voter’s absentee ballot application.”

Republicans said it is needed to combat voter fraud through “ballot harvesting,” a term for the collection of multiple absentee ballots. Democrats argued that there is no proof that ballot harvesting exists and called it an attempt to suppress voting by absentee ballot.

“Any person can still get anyone’s help with applications, but no part of that application can be pre-filled. That’s all,” Republican Sen. Garlan Gudger, the bill’s sponsor, said. “There’s a lot of pressure when some people say, ‘I want you to vote this way,’ and give them an application. You can’t do that. You have to have it blank,” Gudger said.

Democrats and several advocacy groups said the legislation is aimed at trying to make it harder for people vote by absentee ballot.

“It’s just another voter suppression. It’s just a means of suppressing certain people from having the ability and right to access to the free flowing of the vote,” Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton said.