Republicans this month passed a new law in Alabama criminalizing some absentee ballot assistance. Voting rights groups in the state believe the law is unconstitutional.
  • Zugyuk@lemmy.world
    0·
    8 months ago

    “The new measure passed by Republicans and signed into law by Alabama Republican Governor Kay Ivey last week makes it illegal for paid organizers to help others vote by mail, threatening the work of grassroots and national organizations who help voters register and cast their ballots. It includes a bevy of draconian punishments including lengthy jail sentences if paid organizers help others fill out or return their absentee ballots.”

    Hate that click bait shit.

    • TheLadyAugust@lemmy.world
      0·
      8 months ago

      Hi friend! This looks like better context to me, so I’ll add it here:

      Anyone who knowingly pays someone else to request, collect, or deliver absentee ballots could face a Class B felony charge—the same felony class as first-degree manslaughter in Alabama—which carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years. Anyone who is paid to request, collect, complete, prefill, obtain or deliver a voter’s absentee ballot faces a class C felony—the same felony class as looting, third-degree robbery and stalking—punishable by up to ten years in prison

      It sounds like this bill prevents people from showing voters how to fill out a ballot as well as picking up sealed ballots to deliver. The sentences look to be more severe than most of Alabama’s election laws too. I’m looking forward to seeing how this is handled in court.