AG Steve Marshall Announces Clarke County Voter Fraud Investigation Before Nov. 3 Vote

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Friday, Oct. 16, that his office has opened a Clarke County voter fraud investigation, with less than three weeks remaining before the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election.

The Attorney General’s Office released few details about the allegations. The office said only that it is working with local officials and law enforcement in Clarke County as part of the investigation.

No charges have been announced, and the office did not say how many complaints it received, what specific conduct is alleged or whether any particular election, candidate or group of voters is involved.

What the Attorney General Said

In announcing the investigation, Marshall thanked three Clarke County officials for their help and emphasized the role of people who report possible wrongdoing.

“I appreciate the Clarke County Circuit Clerk, Probate Judge and Sheriff for their assistance in this matter,” Marshall said. “Election integrity depends on people who will speak up, and my office is giving these complaints the thorough investigation they deserve. Voter fraud and ballot harvesting are illegal in Alabama, and violations will not be tolerated.”

Marshall has served as Alabama’s attorney general since 2017. His office is responsible for prosecuting violations of state election law, often in coordination with local district attorneys and law enforcement agencies.

An investigation is not a finding of wrongdoing. Allegations of election law violations must be investigated and, if charges are filed, proven in court, and anyone accused is presumed innocent unless and until convicted.

The Local Officials Involved

The three officials Marshall thanked each play a defined role in how elections are run at the county level in Alabama. Under state law, the probate judge, the circuit clerk and the sheriff together make up each county’s appointing board, which selects the poll workers who staff polling places on Election Day.

The probate judge serves as the county’s chief election official and oversees much of the local election process. The circuit clerk typically serves as the county’s absentee election manager, handling absentee ballot applications and ballots. The sheriff provides law enforcement support.

Clarke County, located in southwest Alabama, has Grove Hill as its county seat. Its communities also include Jackson and Thomasville.

What Alabama Law Says About Ballot Harvesting

Marshall’s statement referred specifically to ballot harvesting, a term commonly used to describe the collection and submission of absentee ballot materials by third parties.

In March 2024, Gov. Kay Ivey signed Senate Bill 1, a law that placed new restrictions on absentee ballot applications. Under the law, voters must return their own absentee ballot applications, either in person to the county’s absentee election manager or by mail or commercial carrier. Distributing an absentee application prefilled with a voter’s information, such as a name, is a misdemeanor, and giving or receiving payment or a gift for handling another person’s absentee application is a felony.

The law allows voters who are blind, have a disability or are unable to read or write to receive help from a person of their choice. Supporters described the law as a safeguard against ballot harvesting, while critics, including the League of Women Voters of Alabama, argued it would make it harder for some people to vote.

The Attorney General’s Office has not said which state laws, if any, are at issue in the Clarke County investigation.

Key Dates for the Nov. 3 General Election

For Clarke County voters and others across Alabama, the investigation comes as the final stretch of the election calendar gets underway. Key dates include:

• Monday, Oct. 19: Voter registration deadline for the general election
• Tuesday, Oct. 27: Mailed absentee ballot applications must be received by the county absentee election manager
• Thursday, Oct. 29: Deadline to apply for an absentee ballot in person
• Monday, Nov. 2: Hand-delivered absentee ballots must be received by the close of business
• Tuesday, Nov. 3: Election Day; polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and mailed absentee ballots must be received by noon

State election officials recommend mailing absentee applications and completed ballots well ahead of the deadlines to allow for delivery time. Voters must show a valid photo ID to vote, whether at the polls or by absentee ballot.

How Alabama Absentee Voting Works

Absentee voting for the Nov. 3 general election is already underway. Alabama voters must request an absentee ballot through an application submitted to their county’s absentee election manager, and the completed ballot must then be returned by the applicable deadline.

Voters can download an absentee application and find more information through AlabamaVotes.gov, the state’s official voter information site operated by the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office. The site also allows voters to check their registration status and find their polling place.

Clarke County voters with questions about absentee ballots can contact the Clarke County Circuit Clerk’s Office, while questions about registration can be directed to the county Board of Registrars.

How to Report Election Concerns

Marshall’s statement underscored the role of residents who come forward with concerns. Voters who believe they have witnessed a violation of election law can report it to the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office or local law enforcement.

Voters who have questions about whether something they observed is a problem can also contact their county probate judge’s office or absentee election manager. Reports are most useful when they include specific details such as the date, location and what was observed.

The Attorney General’s Office has not said when the Clarke County investigation might be completed or whether additional information will be released before Election Day.