Voter list bill clears committee

MONTGOMERY – A bill aimed at capping the purchase price of electronic voter lists while also prohibiting the release of voters’ confidential information took a step toward becoming law.

Sponsored by Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville, House Bill 67 would prevent theunveilingofimportant data such as driver’s license numbers, voter ID numbers, full birth dates, email addresses and certain telephone numbers.

On Jan. 21, HB67 was approved by the Constitution, Campaigns, and Elections Committee. It is now placed on the legislative calendar to be taken up in the Alabama House of Representatives at a later date.

“I get contracted probably as much as anything about spam calls,” Kiel previously told the TimesDaily. “Most people don’t even know their phone number is in the voter file.”

In addition to prohibiting the sharing of sensitive information, the bill also puts a limit on the purchase price of voter lists.

In 2025, the Alabama Secretary of State’s office received 874 requests, which resulted in approximately $426,000 in charges.

Kiel’s bill has significant support from both inside and outside the legislature, including that of Secretary of State Wes Allen.

In a press release, Allen said he backs any effort to “decrease the accessibility of our phone numbers to nuisance callers.”

“House Bill 67 will go a long way in cutting down on unwelcome phone calls,” the release reads. “Under current law, your phone number is available for purchase as part of the state’s voter list. Rep. Kiel’s legislation will eliminate the inclusion of your phone number as part of the publicly available voter list.”

The bill will also make it illegal to use any information obtained from voters’ lists for any commercial purpose.

“As Alabama’s Secretary of State, I support his (Kiel) effort and look forward to a few less calls inquiring about my car warranty,” Allen’s release reads.