Statement on Ballot Error and Reprinting

MONTGOMERY – Today, Friday December 2, 2016 the Secretary of State’s Office was updated on the final costs incurred related to the reprinting of the ballot for the November 8 General Election.  The final invoice for the reprinting of 2,917,201 ballots was $459,690.80.  Based on previous records and other information available to us, the usual approximate cost to complete the ballot design, printing, and delivery part of an election cycle is projected at $2.3 million statewide.

The ballot had to be reprinted to add the complete required language to the ballot in order to capture the entire statement that had been prepared in the original legislation. Once the error was discovered, Secretary Merrill immediately contacted the service provider and instructed them to stop printing the ballots.  All required ballot styles had not yet been printed.  Secretary Merrill then directed his staff to make the required, corrected changes and recertify the corrected ballot language to the vendor so printing could be completed.

The initial ballot language was certified to the state’s election services vendor omitting two paragraphs required to provide complete information to the voters. The employee that was assigned this task no longer works for the Secretary of State’s Office.  All other disciplinary measures and actions associated with this project are personnel matters and will not be addressed or discussed in the media.

Secretary Merrill sent a letter to the state comptroller requesting that all costs associated with this printing be covered by the State of Alabama to place no additional, undue burden on the counties.

The final total for the reprinting services will be paid in full by the State of Alabama.  Since January 19, 2015, the Secretary of State’s office has asked to be zeroed out of the State’s General Fund Budget and now receives no appropriation from the state.  Through various cost savings measures, including the departure of 24 of the 48 employees on payroll since January 19, 2015, costs saving measures have produced $1,636,858.21 in line item savings for the people of Alabama. 

Subtracting this $459,690.80 from the savings of $1,636,858.21 means the actual realized savings are totaled at $1,177,167.41.

MONTGOMERY – The purpose of this release is to provide much needed information to the people of Alabama regarding poll watchers in the State of Alabama.

The Code of Alabama allows for poll watchers to observe inside polling locations under Alabama code section 17-8-7. The section specifically limits poll watchers to people who are residents of Alabama and be nominated by a party with a candidate on the ballot. Additionally, the name of each poll watcher shall be submitted to an inspector by the county executive committee or nominees for office.

In section (b) of the Code, poll watchers are given specific rights, which are listed below.

Poll Watchers shall have the right to:

1. Observe the conduct of the election.
2. Monitor the preliminaries of opening the polls.
3. Remain at the polling place throughout the election until the results of the election have been posted and the voting machines sealed, as provided by law.
4. Observe the ballots as they are counted.
5. Observe absentee ballots and affidavits when they are called during the count.
6. See all oaths administered and signed, the record of assisted voters, the list of qualified voters, the poll lists, and any and all records made in connection with the election.

Further, poll watchers may not disturb voters, attempt to influence voters, campaign, or display or wear any campaign material or buttons while inside any polling place.

Under no circumstances will any form of voter intimidation be tolerated, and I will do everything in my power to ensure anyone caught involved in an act that can be considered voter intimidation will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Anyone voting on Election Day that observes or is a victim of voter intimidation in their polling location should first report it at stopvoterfraudnow.com and then call (334) 242-7210 if the problem persists.