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

HB 270 would establish in-person early voting for general and special elections (excluding municipal elections) in Alabama, allowing voters to cast ballots without needing an excuse starting with the 2028 general election. The bill requires counties to open at least one early voting center per 100,000 residents in accessible public locations (like courthouses) during a fixed 10-day period before election day, with specific daily hours (weekdays/Saturdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays 1 p.m.-5 p.m.). Counties must create communication plans to inform voters about locations and hours, while the Secretary of State must adopt rules to prevent duplicate voting and ensure early ballots are counted like election-day votes. This bill directly affects all Alabama voters in non-municipal elections and county election administrators.