Focus on America Urges Alabama Senate to STOP HB67: "Transparency Shouldn't Come With a Gag Order"

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - February 16, 2026 - With House Bill 67 (HB67) now advancing to the Alabama Senate, Focus on America is issuing an urgent warning: the bill may lower the cost of the statewide voter list, but its new restrictions on access and use represent a step backward for transparency, accountability, and citizen oversight.

HB67, which has already passed the Alabama House, proposes to cap the cost of Alabama's electronic voter list at $1,000. But Focus on America argues that the bill's other provisions-tightening what information can be shared, limiting election‑history data, and criminalizing certain uses of voter‑roll information-pose a serious threat to public review of election systems.

The organization says the bill moves Alabama toward greater government control of voter‑roll data at the very moment when watchdogs, researchers, and civic groups are calling for more openness, not less.

What HB67 Would Do

HB67 amends Alabama Code Section 17‑4‑38 and would:

- Cap the fee for an electronic statewide voter list at $1,000.

- Restrict the information that can be disseminated, including email addresses and telephone numbers, among other fields.

- Limit election‑history data to the last 10 election cycles in which a voter participated (as written in the introduced bill).

- Make it unlawful to sell or publish any portion of a voter list or to use voter‑roll data for commercial purposes, except in narrow statutory exceptions.

- Set an effective date of June 1, 2026.

While supporters of the bill have framed it as a privacy measure, Focus on America says the restrictions go far beyond protecting voters-they risk undermining the very transparency that allows citizens to verify the accuracy of voter rolls and detect irregularities.

Why Focus on America Says HB67 Must Be Stopped

"Alabama should be freeing up lawful access to voter data for public oversight-not tightening restrictions that limit transparency and independent review," said Bob Retsch of Focus on America.

The organization argues that voter‑roll access is essential for:

- watchdog groups conducting independent audits

- journalists and researchers analyzing election trends

- citizens verifying the accuracy of their own records

- public‑service tools that help voters stay informed

By narrowing what information can be accessed and how it can be used, Focus on America warns that HB67 could chill legitimate oversight and weaken public confidence in election administration.

"Our supermajority has once again chosen to limit information citizens need to expose wrongdoing in elections," said Ann Eubank of Alabama Legislative Watchdogs, underscoring concerns that the bill could hinder the very groups that monitor election integrity.

Call to Action: Tell Your Senator-VOTE NO on HB67

HB67 has already cleared a Senate committee and is now eligible for consideration by the full Alabama Senate. Focus on America says this is the critical moment for citizens to speak up.

The organization is urging Alabamians to contact their State Senators immediately and deliver a simple message: Vote NO on HB67-let it die.

How to Contact Your Alabama State Senator (Takes 2 Minutes)

- Find your Senator:

Use the Alabama Secretary of State's Find My Elected Officials tool.

- Get contact information:

Visit the Alabama Legislature's official Senate directory:

https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/senate-leaders-members?tab=1

- Call and email:

"I'm your constituent. Please vote NO on HB67."

Include your reasons for opposing the bill.

Bottom Line

Focus on America's message is blunt: HB67 must die in the Alabama Senate.

The organization argues that election integrity depends on transparency-and transparency depends on access. Any legislation that restricts lawful public review, they say, risks weakening the very safeguards that keep elections accountable.