Alabama Absentee Ballots Face Up to 8% Rejection Rate Amidst Lack of Curing Process

While Alabama permits voting by mail, as highlighted by Tim O'Brien's recent social media post stating, > "Alabama allows mail-in voting, too. 🤔", the state operates under a strict absentee ballot system rather than universal mail-in voting. This system mandates specific eligibility criteria and a detailed application and submission process for voters.

To qualify for an absentee ballot in Alabama, voters must provide an approved reason, such as expecting to be absent from the county on election day, being ill or physically disabled, serving in the military or overseas, or having a work shift that coincides with polling hours. Applications for these ballots must reach the Absentee Election Manager seven days before the election if sent by mail, or five if hand-delivered. Once completed, the ballot's affidavit envelope requires the signatures of two witnesses or a notary public.

Despite the availability of absentee voting, Alabama does not implement a "ballot curing" process, which would allow voters to correct minor errors on their submitted ballots. A recent survey conducted by the League of Women Voters across 11 Alabama counties indicated that approximately 3.6% of all absentee ballots were rejected in the last election. This rejection rate showed significant county-to-county variation, ranging from around 1% in Madison County to as high as 8% in Mobile County, underscoring inconsistencies in the system.

State officials, including the Alabama Secretary of State, have affirmed their support for the current absentee voting procedures but have publicly opposed universal mail-in voting, citing substantial cost implications and logistical hurdles. Legislative attempts to introduce ballot curing, such as House Bill 97, have failed to advance. Proponents of such measures, like Representative Kenyatte Hassell, D-Montgomery, argue that many voters remain unaware their ballots were rejected due to uncorrectable technical errors.

The absence of a ballot curing mechanism in Alabama contrasts with practices in other states, where voters are given opportunities to rectify issues with their ballots. Election experts suggest that allowing voters to cure their ballots significantly reduces rejection rates, thereby ensuring a greater number of votes are accurately counted and contributing to higher voter participation.