Thread by @lyman_brian

The Alabama House of Representatives is now taking up the bill to ban curbside voting, writing existing policy of the Secretary of State into state law. This will be a thread for the discussion. #alpolitics

Sponsor Wes Allen, R-Troy, is out after testing positive for COVID-19. Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, is handling the bill. #alpolitics

Rep. A.J. McCampbell, D-Linden, is up. Per Qs from McCampbell, Simpson says there's an amendment to the bill. #

McCampbell says many polling locations in his district were not ADA compliant, and that curbside voting allowed them to accommodate people with disabilities. #alpolitics

McCampbell says he can see Alabama putting itself into position to be sued. It's muscle memory for the state at this point. #alpolitics

Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, is up. "The message to my disabled veteran, who is my dad, my hero, if this bill passes, is that his vote is not important." Coleman says her father is wheelchair bound due to Desert Storm service. #alpolitics

Coleman: "I don't understand why we're passing a piece of legislation when we haven't had a problem yet ... I'm a little bit confused why we're passing a piece of legislation saying we're going to ban curbside voting when we haven't had a problem." #alpolitics

Simpson: "The goal of this bill is to ensure ballot custody by keeping the ballot in the hands of the voter. We ensure that each vote is counted, accurately, honestly independently from any poll worker or third party." #alpolitics

The bill to ban curbside voting passes a procedural motion 74 to 25 with 1 abstention. #alpolitics

Simpson offering an amendment, which changes a portion of the bill from may to shall. McCampbell is up. #alpolitics

The amendment says a county "shall" install as many electronic voting machines in each precinct. #alpolitics

Civil rights groups sued to overturn the curbside ban (and other restrictions) last year, arguing that they imposed an undue burden on individuals with disabilities and those vulnerable to COVID. The U.S. Supreme Court sided with Alabama. montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/202… #alpolitics

Jones asks if this will make it harder to vote. Simpson says polling places are required to be ADA compliant, and says it's supposed to be about ballot security. #alpolitics

Jones: "We don't need any more impediments (to voting). We have enough right now, including apathy." #alpolitics

Rep. Ralph Howard, D-Greensboro, says rural polling places are not ADA compliant. "We stand to disenfranchise a lot of people. Some people can't stand in line. I might be able to get my mother to a polling place. A lot of people can't." #alpolitics

Howard: "We should be more compassionate to people with disabilities ... people with disabilities rely on the Legislature to help them, not to tell them they can't go to a place to vote." #alpolitics

Simpson says his father is disabled, and that he understands the difficulties in getting to polling places. But says he can vote absentee. #alpolitics

Rep. Adline Clarke, D-Mobile, is up reading a list of voting precincts which were not ADA compliant. One had disabled voter parking on a hill, with no ramp to a sidewalk. #alpolitics

Clarke: "Curbside voting is the compassionate thing to allow poll workers to assist just a little bit so they can vote, since they're bound and determined to go to the polls." #alpolitics

Rep. Jeremy Gray, D-Opelika, is up. Like other legislators, says he's assisted voters to the polls. "We have ADA accessible buildings, and you can pull up to a voting place, it took the elderly lady I helped 20 minutes to get out of the car. To me, that's a barrier." #alpolitics

Simpson is bringing up the absentee ballot. Gray says they should not dictate the method of voting to individuals. #alpolitics

Gray: "Should we not make it easier to vote those who paved the way, who've been around for 50, 60 70, 80 years?"

Simpson: "Not if there's opportunity for fraud." #alpolitics

Simpson is reading a comment from the Secretary of State's office opposing curbside voting, calling it "logistically difficult if not impossible" and that it could lead to fraud. Asked if there is any data to back that, Simpson says there is not. #alpolitics

Speaker (didn't catch who it was) is asking why the state "makes it hard, not just for the disabled, but for people in general to vote." #alpolitics

Speaker is saying voting in person is a "pride thing." "We create fraud where none exists." #alpolitics

Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard. "I don't understand why people are fighting so hard to stop people from being able vote." Says Republicans have every state & almost every federal office. "It's like bro, you're running the score up." #alpolitics

Simpson is saying the curbside procedure invites fraud. Bracy noting there are poll workers and watchers to keep an eye on the polls. #alpolitics

Republicans move to end debate. #alpolitics

Cloture petition passes 73 to 25 with 1 abstention. Ten minutes left for debate. #alpolitics

Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, is up. "Get these tire tracks off my back." #alpolitics

Rogers says Republicans are doing their Democratic constituents a favor. "Once they realize you're trying to hold them back, they'll come out in droves." #alpolitics

Rogers: "We ought to be working together to make it easier. Don't put any impediments out there ... there was no fraud out there. You know that." #alpolitics

Small note: Rogers has invoked the Whig Party more than once today. #alpolitics

The House is about to vote on the bill to ban curbside voting. #alpolitics

The Alabama House of Representatives votes 74 to 25 to ban curbside voting, putting policy of the Secretary of State into law. The bill goes to the Senate. #alpolitics