By MARY SELL, Alabama Daily News
The Alabama Senate on Monday gave final approval to legislation to put into law a ban on curbside voting in the state. The Alabama Secretary of State has already disallowed drive-up ballot drop offs.
“It makes it abundantly clear (curbside voting is not allowed),” Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, said on the Senate floor about House Bill 285. “… The goal is to secure ballot custody.”
Democrats argued the state should be expanding voting access and allow elderly and disabled voters to cast ballots without having to enter a precinct.
“This isn’t about ballot security,” Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro said.
He also said the bill isn’t needed because curbside voting isn’t happening in the state now.
“… What you want to do is take away something in the future,” Singleton said.
Roberts argued that nothing is being taken away from voters, they can still cast their ballots in person or absentee.
Singleton countered that a tool is being taken away.
The bill passed the Senate 26-6. It now goes to the governor.