Advocacy groups in Alabama call for election reform after runoff elections

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) — Some voters in Mobile were listed as inactive when attempting to cast their vote in Tuesday’s runoffs, even though they voted in the August 26th elections. With a statewide primary taking place in just a few months, some advocacy groups said reforms are necessary.

Kim Bailey, president of the League of Women Voters of Alabama, said having absentee ballot tracking and accountability would boost the voice of voters at the polls.

She also said disabled voters should be able to get help delivering their absentee ballots.

“If someone is bedridden, you know, unable to leave their home- someone can’t even take their ballot to the mailbox for them,” she said of a law recently passed in the state, regulating the absentee process. “So, that really disenfranchises those voters.”

But, Secretary of State Wes Allen said those voters can still get help. He said the new law, outlawing ballot harvesting, protects vulnerable voters.

“It’s important that we protect absentee voting,” said Allen. “A lot of people depend on it. But, at the same time, I don’t think paid political activists should be manipulating the absentee process.”

Co-founder of Stand Up Mobile, Beverly Cooper, said that the absentee process can be complicated. That’s why she said bringing early voting to the state would be beneficial.

“If we had early voting, it would be a way for people who really want to be involved in the process, for various reasons, can’t make it work when an election season opens,” said Cooper.

But Secretary Allen said he believes in voting day, not voting month. “The citizens of the state of Alabama must have utmost confidence in our elections process. And we’re gonna deliver on that. And I’m looking forward to continuing our election integrity efforts,” he remarked.

The statewide primary for major offices, including Governor, Attorney General and Secretary of State, will take place on May 19, 2026.