Ballot trafficking illegal in Alabama
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Special to the News
Op-Ed by Secretary of State John Merrill
In Alabama, it is illegal for any individual to return or mail another individual’s absentee ballot application or their absentee ballot.
This practice, known as ballot trafficking or ballot harvesting, is a dangerous practice that often leads to ballot traffickers stealing the votes of well-meaning and unsuspecting voters.
Alabama law requires that the chain of custody be maintained for both absentee applications and absentee ballots. If the chain of custody for absentee application or ballot is broken, then the law has been violated.
According to §17-11-4 of the Code of Alabama, “The application may be handed by the applicant to the absentee election manager or forwarded to him or her by United States mail or by commercial carrier, as determined by rule by the secretary of state.”
Under Alabama law, the application must remain in the voter’s custody or with an approved commercial mail carrier during the entire process.
Pertaining to absentee ballots, §17-11-9 states that after completing their ballot voters must “forward it by United States mail to the absentee manager or hand it to him or her in person.” Once again, the absentee ballot must remain in the custody of the voter or an approved commercial mail carrier chosen by the voter.
Ballot trafficking will not be allowed in our state. It undermines the legitimacy of the elections process, and it leads to many Alabamians having their votes trafficked by paid political operatives.
And to be clear, these traffickers are not seeking to make it easier to vote; in fact, they are trying to make it easier to cheat. Ballot trafficking cheats Alabamians out of their ability to elect leaders to represent them free from coercion or manipulation.
If you are a witness to ballot trafficking or have been a victim of ballot trafficking, then it is incumbent upon you to report this activity to the Secretary of State’s Elections Division at 334-242-7210 or by visiting stopvoterfraudnow.com.
Individuals who are found to be engaged in ballot trafficking will be referred to prosecuting authorities so they can be indicted and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.