MONTGOMERY, Ala.- Today, the Constitution and Elections Committee of the Alabama House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 30, which will assist Alabama’s military voters serving abroad. Secretary of State Beth Chapman and the Military and Overseas Voting Task Force drafted the legislation to give members of the military four additional ways other than the US Postal Service to obtain their ballot. These methods include: commercial carriers such as FedEx and UPS, a secure fax line, email and secure electronic transmission. The bill will also authorize those overseas voters to return their ballots using any of those methods except electronic transmission.
"We are excited our legislation passed the committee today," said Chapman. "Committee Chairman Jimmy Martin of Clanton has been a tireless advocate for this cause. I am thankful to him and the entire membership of the committee for their support of this very important bill."
Members voting in favor of the legislation include: Representatives Jimmy Martin (D-Clanton), Tommy Sherer (D-Jasper), Jay Love (R-Montgomery), Randy Davis (R-Daphne), Chad Fincher (R-Semmes), James Gordon (D-Saraland), Barry Mask (R-Wetumpka) and Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham).
"There are thousands of soldiers from Alabama that have already been or are waiting to be deployed around the world. This bill will allow the very men and women who are fighting for our right to vote to participate in the sacred process they defend."