SPLC Action Fund: “Shame on Governor Ivey and Alabama’s Legislators” for “Needless” Curbside Voting Ban

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Today, Governor Kay Ivey of Alabama signed House Bill (HB) 285 into law, which formally bans the practice of curbside voting in the state for future elections.
 
The SPLC Action Fund has previously expressed opposition to HB 285:  
https://www.splcactionfund.org/press-center/splc-action-fund%C2%A0al-hou...“-vindictive-measure-no-discernible-0  

The following statement is by Caren Short, senior supervising attorney for SPLC Action Fund: 

“After the Alabama Senate passed HB 285 during the final few hours of this year’s legislative session, Governor Kay Ivey today signed the needless, burdensome bill into law. 

“Like the Georgia and Florida anti-voter laws passed this year before it, Alabama’s HB 285 is built on lies, falsehoods, and misunderstandings of how elections can work to the benefit of voters, election officials, and communities.  

“Alabamians with disabilities and advocates are well-aware and have repeatedly told legislators and Secretary of State John Merrill that voting precincts around the state are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  

“Instead of listening to those concerns and making curbside voting an affordable possibility for counties to implement, Alabama’s officials went the opposite direction and placed yet another barrier in front of voters with disabilities. Mississippi and Texas have curbside voting available for their voters and have no reported issues ensuring voters that use the practice have their votes processed and counted accurately.  

“Without no-excuse absentee voting or early in-person voting and now with curbside voting banned entirely, Alabamians with disabilities continue to be in danger of showing up on Election Day unable to access their fundamental right to vote. Shame on Governor Ivey and Alabama’s legislators who passed this into law.”