HB67 Aims to Protect Alabamians From Unwanted Calls by Removing Phone Numbers From Public Voter Lists

January 22, 2026 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama voters may soon see a major reduction in unwanted phone calls thanks to new legislation introduced by Rep. Jamie Kiel (R‑Russellville). House Bill 67, filed for consideration in the 2026 Regular Session, targets one of the lesser‑known sources of spam and nuisance calls: the state's publicly available voter list.

Under current Alabama law, a voter's phone number is included in the voter file that can be legally purchased by campaigns, political organizations, and any member of the public. While the intent of the voter list is to support election transparency and legitimate political communication, it has also become a tool exploited by high‑volume callers and commercial entities seeking easy access to large batches of phone numbers.

Rep. Kiel's bill seeks to change that.

Removing Phone Numbers From the Public Voter File

HB67 would prohibit the inclusion of phone numbers in the publicly available voter list, closing off a major pipeline used by political consultants, telemarketers, and other "professional callers" to reach Alabamians.

Kiel has emphasized that the bill is not aimed at restricting political speech or limiting public access to election information. Instead, it focuses on protecting the privacy of voters who never intended for their personal contact information to be sold or distributed.

"Most people don't realize that when they register to vote, their phone number becomes part of a list that anyone can buy," Kiel has noted in discussions about the bill. "HB67 simply removes that information from circulation."

Banning Commercial Use of Voter List Data

In addition to removing phone numbers, HB67 would make it illegal to use any information obtained from the voter list for commercial purposes. This provision is designed to prevent companies from purchasing the list under the guise of political activity and then repurposing the data for marketing, solicitation, or other profit‑driven uses.

Election officials have long warned that the voter list is intended solely for political, governmental, and research purposes. HB67 would give that expectation the force of law, creating penalties for those who misuse the information.

Support From Secretary of State Wes Allen

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, whose office oversees voter registration and the distribution of voter lists, has voiced strong support for HB67. In an editorial endorsing the bill, Allen highlighted the frustration many Alabamians feel about the constant barrage of unwanted calls.

"For most Alabamians, a ringing phone is more likely to be a spam call than a friend, family member, neighbor or anyone you actually want to engage with in conversation. Any effort we can make to decrease the accessibility of our phone numbers to nuisance callers should be welcomed."

Allen has made election security and voter privacy central themes of his tenure. HB67 aligns with his broader push to tighten access to sensitive voter information and ensure that Alabama's election systems are used responsibly.

A Growing Demand for Privacy Protections

The bill arrives at a time when voters across the country are increasingly concerned about data privacy. While federal law restricts certain types of robocalls and telemarketing practices, many loopholes remain - especially for political and nonprofit organizations.

By removing phone numbers from the voter list, HB67 would eliminate one of the easiest ways for mass‑dialing operations to reach Alabama residents. Supporters argue that the change will not only reduce nuisance calls but also restore a measure of control to voters who feel overwhelmed by constant outreach.

Privacy advocates have praised the bill as a practical, targeted reform that balances transparency with personal protection. Political campaigns would still have access to voter names, addresses, and voting histories - the core information needed for legitimate outreach - but would no longer be able to rely on the voter file as a ready‑made phone directory.

Next Steps in the Legislature

HB67 is expected to receive committee consideration in the coming weeks. If passed, Alabama would join a growing number of states that have restricted or eliminated phone numbers from their voter lists in response to rising concerns about privacy and data misuse.

For now, the bill has sparked a bipartisan conversation about how to protect voters in an era of constant digital intrusion - and whether Alabama's election laws should evolve to reflect modern expectations of privacy.