On May 19, Secretary of State John Merrill launched a Vote for Alabama app, available to all iPhones and Androids.

The app enables all Alabamians to register to vote and locate relevant election information. Voters now have the ability to register to vote on the Secretary of State’s website and via the new app, along with traditional registration methods.

The Legislature adjourned sine die late Wednesday, May 4, 2016.

Lawmakers started the impeachment process of Gov. Robert Bentley and passed an education budget. The general fund added $15 million to Medicaid, but left an $85 million deficit. Bentley is expected to call for a special session to address the deficit.

Rep. Ed Henry has collected enough signatures to formally begin an impeachment investigation against Gov. Robert Bentley.

Bentley has declined to step down amid a political scandal involving allegations of misuse of state funds and an affair with a former political adviser.

A judiciary committee will be established within the next few weeks to examine the merits for impeachment.

Photo of Gov. Robert Bentley by Sutherland Boswell on Wikimedia Commons.

The Legislature sent a bill to Gov. Robert Bentley creating an exception to the current revolving door provision of the ethics law. Senate Bill 141 grants an exception to the two-year ban on lobbying for former government officials or employees who retire from public office.

The bill clarifies the ban does apply to former government officials or employees who worked pursuant to a consulting agreement or agency transfer while on loan.

The bill will be effective immediately following approval by Bentley.

Following the death of Rep. Lesley Vance, a special election will be held to fill a vacant seat for Alabama House District 80.

A special primary election will be held on January 19, with a special general election to be held on April 12, 2016.

On September 16, the Alabama Legislature adjourned its special session sine die after achieving a budget for the state. The special session, which was called by Gov. Robert Bentley to address the Alabama general fund budget shortfall, began on September 8. Bentley said he expects to sign the budget legislation into law, according the Montgomery Advertiser.

Gov. Robert Bentley has called a special legislative session to begin September 8, 2015.

The session has been called to address the $200 million general fund budget shortfall.

The governor has proposed three measures to reform the budget, including transferring money from the educational trust fund to the general fund and removing earmarks currently placed on certain state taxes. He has also proposed increasing the cigarette tax and amending the business privilege tax.

With still no budget agreement for the state, the Alabama Legislature adjourned its special session sine die on Tuesday, August 11, 2015. The special session had been called because there was no state budget in place at the end of the regular legislative session for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2015. Gov. Robert Bentley is likely to call another special session to resolve the state budget issue.

The city of Montgomery, Alabama, in cooperation with the Secretary of State’s office, will pilot a live electronic balloting system for overseas military and civilian voters in the upcoming municipal election on August 25, 2015.

The electronic voting system will allow citizens of Montgomery living overseas an opportunity to vote in the municipal election.

This pilot project is a test of the electronic balloting system being developed throughout the state of Alabama for military and civilian voters who are out of the country during an election.

The Alabama Legislature convened a special session Monday, July 13, 2015, only to recess until August 3, 2015. The Senate was in session for a total of 19 minutes and the House was in session for less than 30 minutes.

Legislators claimed the timing of the special session was rushed, so they were unprepared to consider the governor’s proposed budget.

Lawmakers will reconvene the session on August 3 with the intent of passing a budget.

Gov. Robert Bentley has called a special legislative session to convene Monday, July 13, 2015. Bentley originally planned to call a special session to convene in mid-August or after Labor Day to give lawmakers an opportunity to make summer plans for June and July. Many legislators are frustrated with the abrupt timing of the special session.

Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard sent an email to members of the House detailing a plan to convene the special session on Monday and then immediately adjourn until August 3, 2015. Such a maneuver would keep the clock running on the special session, which by statute may only last 30 days, giving legislators approximately a week to come back into session on August 3.

The Alabama Legislature adjourned sine die Thursday, June 4, 2015. However, Gov. Robert Bentley is likely to call a special session because there is no state budget in place for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2015.

The state Senate approved a budget but Bentley termed the Senate’s plan ‘unworkable’ and thus vetoed it. The House overrode the veto, but the Senate had adjourned for the summer before an override vote could be taken.

The Alabama Ethics Commission selected a new director, naming Tom Albritton as its chief.

Albritton is a former prosecutor and is leaving the position of deputy director of the Office of Prosecution Services to take the director position at the ethics commission.

According to the Alabama Media Group, Albritton will focus on three areas upon assuming the role: enforcement, education, and administration.

Jim Sumner, executive director of the Alabama Ethics Commission, is retiring after 35 years in public service.

Sumner has held the executive director position for 17 years.

Upon his departure on October 1, 2014, the five-member Ethics Commission will pick Sumner’s successor, subject to approval by the state Senate.