Senate declines to vote on bill requiring post-election audits
The Alabama Senate on Wednesday declined to vote on a bill that would have required probate judges to conduct limited post-election audits after every county and statewide election.
Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Sheffield, made the motion to carry over the bill after saying he thought it was unnecessary and would not increase election security.
Stutts came to the mic after several Democrats spoke in opposition to the bill, saying it was not needed and would be a waste of time and money.
“I think this is a bill that is looking for a problem,” Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, said. “We don’t have a problem.”
“I would love for once for someone to come and tell me where the problems are instead of trying to find the problems,” Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, said.
The bill would have required canvassing boards in every county to pick one statewide or countywide race to be audited in one precinct by the judge of probate. The selection would be made on the second Friday after any county and statewide general election.
The bill would have required probate judges to report the audit findings, such as any problems or discrepancies, to the secretary of state, who would post the results on the secretary of state’s website and report the findings to the governor and the Legislature.
The House had passed the bill by a vote of 83-7 a month ago.
Thursday will be the last day of the legislative session.