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Rep. Hall files bill to "authorize absentee voting without excuse"

The bill also allows "for the increase of staff that is needed in the circuit clerk's office, and the election manager's office."

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — There's a proposed bill under review to allow absentee ballot voting available for everyone.

State Representative Laura Hall filed "H.B.396" last week. Part of the bill "authorizes absentee voting without excuse". The bill also allows "for the increase of staff that is needed in the circuit clerk's office, and the election manager's office."

Hall says there may be additional changes to the bill before it's presented to the "Constitution, Campaigns, and Elections Committee" again this week.

"The bill really is just to open the door as another way for allowing individuals an opportunity to express their desire to vote," says Rep. Laura Hall, AL-Dist.19.

Representative Hall says although some elected officials oppose the bill, she has support from U.S. Representative Mo Brooks, and Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill.

The League of Women Voters of Alabama also expressed support for the bill, and reflects on last year's elections. "This has been a hard year, Over the past year with the pandemic, there's been a lot of stress. It's been a hard year. We've had three to four different elections during the pandemic, and that has been an expensive and stressful time for everybody," says League of Women Voters of Alabama Advocacy Team Chair, Kathy Jones.

Jones says the organization is confident in the "no-excuse absentee voting" bill (HB 396).

"We think that the excuses are just a cluttering of the form. They would not reduce any voter integrity, that we're still going to have the same strong election, added Jones.

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