March 25, 2024 Group Watch: “Ban” Bills Now Law
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law a bill that aims to prevent fraud in absentee voting. The measure’s purpose is to prevent “ballot harvesting,” a term that generally means the mass distribution or collection of absentee ballot applications or ballots. (Opponents say the law criminalizes work that helps the elderly, disabled and incarcerated cast their ballots.) Under the new law, ballot harvesting is a Class C felony, punishable by one to 10 years in prison. The governor also signed into law a bill banning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices, programming and training in public colleges and other state agencies. The new law bans any program that “advocates for a divisive concept.” It would also prohibit higher education institutions from allowing individuals to use a restroom that is different from their sex as assigned at birth.
