Alabama Gov. Key Ivey signs absentee ballot bill amid criticism from voting rights groups

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed SB1 into law Wednesday, a measure that bans ballot harvesting and makes it a potential Class C felony to receive payment for assisting in the distribution, filling out, delivering, and ordering of absentee ballots applications.

Ballot harvesting is the act of collecting individual ballots, by an organization or individual person, and delivering them to a polling place or election office. SB1 provides criminal penalties to this act ranging from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C felony.

Gudger said the bill strengthens the state's absentee voting process "while protecting voters who are disabled and protecting our overseas military voters".

The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, and Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville.

“Here in Alabama, we are committed to ensuring our elections are free and fair," Ivey said in a statement. "I commend Secretary of State Wes Allen, as well as members of the Alabama Legislature for making election security a priority, and I am proud to officially sign Senate Bill 1 into law. Under my watch, there will be no funny business in Alabama elections."

Voting advocacy groups, including the League of Women Voter of Alabama, released statements this week denouncing the bill.

"Voters deserve equal and fair access to the ballot, including the option to vote by absentee ballot, and many Alabama voters with disabilities rely on the help of neighbors and voter assistance organizations to successfully cast their absentee ballot," the league's statement said.

"SB1 and bills like it are just another form of voter suppression that do nothing to protect the 'integrity' of our elections but do a great deal to make it harder for voters with disabilities to cast their ballot. Voter assistance is not a crime and should not be treated as such."

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen gave support for the bill Wednesday as well.

“Free and fair elections are the foundation of our constitutional republic. The passage of SB1 signals to ballot harvesters that Alabama votes are not for sale. The Alabama Legislature and Governor Ivey have made it clear that Alabama voters have the right to cast their own vote without undue influence,” Allen said.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Gov. Kay Ivey signs bill to protect 'integrity of Alabama elections'