Alabama House approves bill requiring post‑election audits after every general election

The Alabama House of Representatives voted to pass House Bill 95, a measure requiring a post‑election audit after every county or statewide general election, after extended floor debate and two recorded votes.

Sponsor Chairman Joe Lovern, who introduced the measure, told colleagues the audit "does not change election results. It only checks them where the post audit of the machines at random." He described the process as a ‘‘toe in the door’’ to verify machines and procedures and to give voters greater confidence in election mechanics.

Opponents pressed the sponsor on cost and implementation. Multiple members asked whether the $35,000 fiscal note represented a per‑county cost; Lovern and the fiscal office clarified on the floor that the $35,000 estimate is cumulative statewide per day, not $35,000 per county. Representative McCampbell and…