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HB 95ALABAMASession 2026rsState BillSigned into law
Enacted

Alabama enacts mandatory post-election audits requiring manual comparison of ballots in every county

Original title: Elections; post election audit required

Last action · April 13, 2026: EnactedSponsor: Joe Lovvorn

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

Alabama now requires every county probate judge to conduct a post-election audit after each general election by manually comparing at least 30 ballots against machine results in a randomly selected precinct and race. The process begins between 31 days after the election or when contest filing periods expire, must conclude within 30 days, and requires all county expenses to be fully reimbursed by the Comptroller.

Why it matters

County election offices must manage and fund random post-election audits following every statewide and countywide general election, with all incurred expenses fully reimbursed by the state Comptroller.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Judge of probate of each county

Must order, schedule, and oversee post-election audits, appoint poll workers, and report findings to the Secretary of State.

Directly affected

Secretary of State

Receives audit reports, publishes results on the official website, reports findings to the Governor and Legislature, and may adopt rules and prescribe forms.

Directly affected

Comptroller

Must reimburse counties in full for all expenses incurred as a result of the audits.

Directly affected

Poll workers and inspectors

Appointed to conduct the audit and receive compensation as provided in Section 17-8-12, Code of Alabama 1975.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the post-election audit take place?
The audit commences no earlier than 31 days following the statewide general election or upon the expiration of the time period for filing an election contest, whichever is less, and must be completed within 30 days of commencement.
Who pays for the costs incurred by counties during the audit?
All expenses incurred by any county as a result of the audit are reimbursed in full by the Comptroller.
Are members of the public and media allowed to observe the audit?
Yes, poll watchers may attend and observe, the judge of probate must give public notice of the audit, and accredited members of the media are permitted to be present and observe.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

31 actions
  1. Apr 13, 2026HouseEnrolled
    Enacted
  2. Apr 8, 2026HouseEnrolled
    Signed by Governor
  3. Apr 8, 2026Senate
    Gudger Motion to Concur In and Adopt Executive Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1229
  4. Apr 7, 2026House
    Lovvorn Motion to Concur In and Adopt Executive Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1253
  5. Apr 7, 2026House
    Pending with Executive Amendment
  6. Mar 31, 2026HouseEnrolled
    Delivered to Governor
Show 25 earlier actions
  1. Mar 31, 2026Senate
    Signature Requested
  2. Mar 31, 2026House
    Enrolled
  3. Mar 31, 2026House
    Ready to Enroll
  4. Mar 31, 2026SenateFloor
    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1000
  5. Mar 31, 2026Senate
    Petition To Close Debate- Adopted Roll Call 999
  6. Mar 31, 2026Senate
    Hovey motion to Table - Adopted Voice Vote
  7. Mar 31, 2026Senate
    Finance and Taxation General Fund 1st Amendment Offered
  8. Mar 31, 2026Senate
    Third Reading in Second House
  9. Feb 25, 2026Senate
    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
  10. Feb 25, 2026SenateCommittee
    Reported Out of Committee Second House
  11. Feb 25, 2026Senate
    Finance and Taxation General Fund 1st Amendment
  12. Jan 15, 2026SenateCommittee
    Pending Committee Action in Second House
  13. Jan 15, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation General Fund
  14. Jan 15, 2026House
    Engrossed
  15. Jan 15, 2026HouseFloor
    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 4
  16. Jan 15, 2026House
    Motion to Adopt - Lost Roll Call 3
  17. Jan 15, 2026House
    McCampbell 1st Amendment Offered
  18. Jan 15, 2026House
    Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 2
  19. Jan 15, 2026House
    Ways and Means General Fund Engrossed Substitute Offered
  20. Jan 15, 2026House
    Third Reading in House of Origin
  21. Jan 14, 2026House
    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
  22. Jan 14, 2026HouseCommittee
    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
  23. Jan 14, 2026House
    Reported Out Committee House of Origin-- Committee Amendment
  24. Jan 13, 2026HouseCommittee
    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
  25. Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means General Fund

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Joe LovvornHouse · District 79RepublicanPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Mandatory County Post-Election Audits

The legislation institutes a formal, mandatory process requiring county probate judges to conduct audits and report discrepancies to state officials following every general election.

Secretary of StateGovernorComptroller

Connected Entities

Comptroller, Governor, Secretary of State and 4 more
OrganizationComptroller“Reimburses all expenses incurred by any county as a result of the audit.”Map →
PersonGovernor“Receives the post-election audit report from the Secretary of State.”Map →
OrganizationSecretary of State“Receives audit findings, publishes results on website, and reports findings to t”Map →
otherSection 17-8-2, Code of Alabama 1975“Governs notification and publication of poll worker appointments.”Map →
otherAlabama Post-Election Audit Act“Official title of the act established in Section 1.”Map →
otherSection 17-8-12, Code of Alabama 1975“Determines compensation for poll workers.”Map →
OrganizationLegislature“Receives the post-election audit report from the Secretary of State.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

alison.legislature.state.al.us

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy15
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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