Elections; early voting; in-person voting period; authorized

HB 71 establishes a new in-person early voting system for Alabama's general and special elections (excluding municipal elections), beginning with the 2026 November election. It allows any qualified voter to cast an in-person ballot without needing an excuse at designated early voting centers, operating for at least 17 days before election day with specific hours (including weekday and Saturday availability). Counties must set up at least one center per 100,000 residents, equip centers with voting machines, and create public communication plans to inform voters about locations and hours. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to adopt rules preventing duplicate voting and ensures early ballots are counted identically to election day votes.