A Missed Opportunity for Election Integrity in Alabama

Guest Opinion by Angela Shepherd, Lee County, Alabama

Just one week ago, I sat in the Alabama State House praying that HB30—the Post-Election Audit Act—would make it to the Senate floor. Sadly, it did not. And it wasn't alone. Many good bills quietly died in those final hours, and with them, opportunities for meaningful progress.

As I've had time to decompress, I've felt a full spectrum of emotions—sadness, frustration, and disappointment. Since February, I've walked the halls of the State House, met with House members and Senators, and watched the legislative process unfold firsthand. I didn't just follow legislation this session—I lived it.

Representative Debbie Wood carried the brunt of the work on HB30 with clarity and conviction. Despite showing video evidence of an absentee ballot being copied and scanned eight times during a public machine test in 2022, the Alabama Senate never prioritized the bill—even with a major election just over a year away.

Let's be clear: HB30 was not a fringe idea. It was a Republican Party and House GOP Caucus Priority, passed twice by the House, supported by citizens across the political spectrum, and backed by experts as a national best practice. Yet it was met with shrugs and silence.

I've heard some say the bill "wasn't strong enough." And I would agree—it could have gone further. But in my opinion, you have to start somewhere. That's how legislation works. Most bills don't pass in their ideal form the first time. What matters is building a foundation for reform—and HB30 was that foundation.

I was also told, "We don't have problems here." My question is simple: How do you know? If you're not looking for problems, you won't find any. That's what audits are for—to check the math and reassure the public.

This session revealed something hard to admit: even in a supermajority Republican legislature that claims to champion election integrity, reform can be ignored when it's inconvenient.

Still, I remain hopeful. Because if this session taught me anything, it's that the voices of everyday citizens matter. We just have to keep showing up—and we will. It also reminded me that real change can begin when a representative takes the time to listen to the concerns of a constituent and is willing to work together toward a solution. That's what Representative Debbie Wood did, and that leadership deserves to be recognized.

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