A House commitee Wednesday morning tabled a bill that would have pushed back the deadline to register and vote in an election from 14 days prior to the election to 30 days. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Jack Williams, R-Vestavia Hills, would also have moved out the maximum distance a candidate can campaign outside a polling place from 30 feet to 150 feet. Williams said afterward he believed the committee move effectively killed the legislation for the session.
During the debate, Williams said registrars needed added time to develop accurate voter polls, and said that voters should not be bothered by campaigners as they go into vote. “Folks have a right to come to a polling place and park their car and walk into the polling place without having folks shove things in their face,” he said.
Barry Stephenson, the chairman of the Jefferson County Board of Registrars, said last week they welcomed the move to 14 days, saying budget and staff cuts had made the 10-day window difficult. However, he said he was not aware of registrars pushing for a 30-day window.
Full Article: House committee tables voter registration bill.