AVRC members speak out against HB 194 at public hearing, Alabamians encouraged to ask senators to vote No on bill

Montgomery, AL (March 30, 2022) – The Alabama Senate Governmental Affairs Committee gave a favorable report to HB 194 despite objections from members of the Alabama Voting Rights Coalition and the secretary of state’s office, which they say will directly impact the way grassroots organizations provide Alabamians with voter education programs.

HB 194 would make it illegal for grassroots organizations to collaborate with local elections officials to educate and help voters get out the vote. This means that churches, nonprofits and other civic organizations would be prohibited from filling the gaps and helping Alabamians have the resources to get out the vote. Any person who violates this law could be charged with a Class B misdemeanor offense. In Alabama, Class B misdemeanor convictions can result in jail sentences of up to six months and fines of up to $3,000.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Wes Allen, R-Troy.

A public hearing was held on Tuesday during the committee meeting.

Kathy Jones, president of the League of Women Voters Alabama, spoke at the public hearing.

Jones said that LWV serves all of Alabama in voter registration and voter education.

“We don’t just set up tables in isolation,” she said. “We work closely with election officials across the state.”

Allen has said that grassroots organizations are free to set up tables and conduct voter registration drives and that this bill does not prohibit that.

Jones said the confusing catch-all term of personal services is the problem with the bill. This coupled with mandatory jail time and monetary penalties creates confusion.

“It will generate an atmosphere of uncertainty and reluctance to communicate and collaborate with organizations such as the League of Women Voters. It is going to place one more burden of fear and potential for intimidation on hard-working selfless election workers who are conducting secure elections.”

Hugh Evans, general counsel of the Secretary of State’s office, said they cannot support the bill while they do not support the privatization of elections. Rep. Allen has said this bill is to prevent private funds from influencing elections. The Secretary of State’s office has been clear that it is in support of stopping private money from funding elections, but that the office believes the bill is worded in a way that would stop organizations from registering people to vote.

Evans said one of the biggest outreach programs for the Secretary of State’s office is the mobile voter ID and voter registration drives. This is a program the League of Women Voters works with often.

“We had offered some language that didn’t make it into the bill that would make it clear that if there is an event going on that is funded by a private entity we could still participate provided we weren’t the sponsor of the event, we weren’t directing the event, we weren’t financing the event,” he said.

Evans said the Secretary of State’s office wanted to be able to bring their mobilization unit to voter registration events.

JaiGregory Clarke, the voting rights restoration coordinator for Faith in Action Alabama, also spoke.

He said he was formerly incarcerated and has had his rights restored, but received conflicting information from the county registrar’s office and pardons and parole about whether he was eligible. Clarke contacted the League of Women Voters and Greater Birmingham Ministries who were able to contact the supervisor of the county registrar’s office and were able to help get the situation rectified.

Carla Woodall, Houston County absentee manager, spoke in support of the bill.

“You have two voices in government, one is to go to the polls and vote and one is to serve as a juror in the judicial system,” she said. “With private donations, you’re tipping those scales of that election before those voters even get to the polls.”

Woodall said that election officials serve at the leisure of the public.

Two other proponents for the bill spoke at the public hearing – Pike County Judge of Probate Michael Bunn and Becky Gerritson of Eagle Forum of Alabama.

During the public hearing, Sen. Jimmy Holley, R-Elba, who is the committee chair, rushed the speakers even cutting off Evans as he attempted to finish his explanation on why the Secretary of State’s office requested additional clarifying language in the bill. This has been a common occurrence during public hearings in the legislature this legislative session. The bill received an 8-2 favorable report. It now moves on to the full Senate for consideration.

The Alabama Voting Rights Coalition is composed of Alabama Forward, Alabama Values Progress, ACLU Alabama, Campaign Legal Center, Faith in Action Alabama, Greater Birmingham Ministries (GBM),  I Vote Madison,  Kenny Sharpton-Glasgow Ministries International, League of Women Voters Alabama, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Restorative Strategies LLC, Rollin to the Polls, SPLC Action Fund, The Ordinary People Society, and The United Women of Color. The coalition’s mission is to build collective power to advance voting rights in Alabama through education, outreach, collaboration, and advocacy.

Alabamians are asked to contact their senators and ask them to vote “NO” on HB 194. You can find your Senator by clicking here.